how many true lovers of the King but too deceitfull lovers of themselves who through feare or covetousnesse hoping to praeserve their estates liberties have been cosin'd into this courteous Covenant then by their jealous or wanton masters have been stript naked turnd out to beg their bread regaine their souls credit as they could So that this straight tie can in some cases we see play fast loose the strictnesse of it whereof we have had so sad an experiment will be found onelie by the hands of the holie leaguers for such we know were the newnam'd Independents at first to bind Religion Majestie Loyaltie to the blocke then lay the axe to the root of them all stifle them from repullulating if they can Therefore they that manage the conscience whether of Court or Citie or Countrey doe well if they possesse their Religious votaries with a particular full sense of the inevitable miserie that will follow them if they be catchd in this noose advise them to whip all such sawcie beggars such Whying Covenanters from their gates The next taske of the Reuiewers Engineer-ship is to draw an out worke about the open unkindnesse treason pretilie qualified in the terme against the observe he sayth not our late King which he makes of so large a compasse that all the Presbyterian credit he can raise will never be able to maintaine it for an houre which this skillfull officer foreseeing despaire puts him first upon a salie where the Ghosts of Wickâ—…iffe Husse Luther with a brazen piece of falshood his Disciples are draw'n out to assault his dangerous enemie in his trench For which he knowes as well as I can tell him there are other parts of the Reformed world beside England those of Luthers Disciples that keep up Episcopacic to this day And forgetting in part what he hath sayd allreadie minding lesse what he shall bâ—…bble otherwhere about the businesse he tells us here 't is the violence of ill advised Princes which when he pleaseth he makes the Policie of the Bishops themselves that hath kept up this limbe of Antichrist he meanes the Episcopal order in England Since the first Reformation whence hath come the perpetual trouble in our land the Historie of the Schismatical Puritanâ—… will sufficientlie satisfie any man that will search And how the Church Kingdome are now at last come so neare the ground the Disciplinarian practices will evidence But the Scotish Presbyterie that gave the first kicke at the miter hath since lift up the other leg against the Crowne may chance to catch the fall in the end having now much adoe to light upon its feet Having made his â—…ecreat he begins to endeavour the maintaining of his masterpiece by degrees tell us Their first contests stand justified this day by King Parliament in both Kingdomes Ans And must so stand I say not jufied till King Parliament meet once againe in either to consider whether with out a new ratification by their favour your after contests make not a just forfeiture of their gracious condescension to your first His Majestie of ever blessed memorie hath told you His charitie Act of Pacification forbids him to reflect on former passages Which argues some such passages to have been as were not very meritorious of his favour And though his Royal charitie may silence it doth not justifie your contests by that Act. The borders of Scotland being as well His Majesties as yours though you keep to your Presbyterian style which affords no proprietie to others then themselves yeilds very litle communitie to Kings the King our borders I hope it was free for him to move toward them as he pleas'd If your resistance to the Magistrates he deputed made him for the securitie of his person come attended with an armie for his guard or if the rod axe could inflict no paenal justice by vertue of the judge's word upon a banded companie of miscreants at home therefore sent abroad to crave the regular assistance of the sword no lawes of God nor your Countrey dictates any just or necessarie defense which is nothing but an unjustifiable rebellion Nor can Dunce law so justifie your meeke lying downe in your armes but that if the King would have made his passage to you with his sword you might have justlie been by a more learned law helpt up with a halter about your necke The novations in Religion were not such a world but that two words Liiurgie Canons may compasse it What was in them contrarie to the lawes of God hath a blanke margin still that requires your proofe that any were to the lawes of your Countrey will never be made good having the King Lords of the Counsel I meane those of your Kingdome that did approve them The power in your armie to dissipate the Kings is but a litle of Pyrgopolynices breath The easie conditions given you to retreat may be attributed to His Majesties mercie aversenesse from bloud not to his apprehension of your power The Kings second coming toward you with an armie was upon no furious motion of the Bishops who had no stroke in his Councel for warre but upon the fierie trial you put him to by that many flagrant provocations wherewith you other incendiaries nearer home daylie environ'd him who fearing the precedent accommodation by peace might afford respite for a farther more particular discoverie of the principal actours in contributers toward the late warre expose many considerable brethren to a legal trial notwithstanding the agreement contracted impatient ambition having allreadie been too much impeded by observing the easie conditions you mention made the first breach according to the right account first rais'd a militarie power which His Majestie had very good reason to suppresse The successe you had by your first impression upon part of His Majesties Armie at New-bourne your easie purchace of the Towne of New-Castle was not such as cleard the passage to London without the farther hazard of which you were too well payd for your stay in Northumberland instead of a rod that was due you caried too honourable a badge at your backes of His Majesties meeknesse when the second time you returned in peace What passed after your packing away to the raising of the new armie you speake of you may reade blush if you have any grace in the former part of His martyr'd Majesties booke if you have none you may as I beleeve you doe laugh in your slovenlie sleeve to see your prompt scholars come to so good perfection copie your owne rebellion to the life The Bishops then were litle at leisure to looke abroad to any such purpose being happie if they could get an house for their shelter from the threats stones that flew very thicke about their eares the rabble
rout at London by that time being well inform'd what effectual weapons stones stooles such like as furie on a sodaine could furnish had been against blacke gownes white sleeves at Edenburgh before That any armie could at that time be raised when the Kings Forts Magazines Militia Navie were seizd into the hands of your Rebell brethren was a special marke of divine providence cleare in so happie successe as he that ran might then have read their ruine writ by the fingar of God had nor the blacke cloud of our sinnes eclips'd that light blotted out that handwriting shour'd downe vengeance upon our heads That such earnest pitifull entreaties should be made to strengthen the arme of flesh by Gods people in Gods cause after such divine revelation that this was the appointed time wherein Christs Kingdome was to be exalted on earth that the Saints should flourish laugh sing at the downefull of that man of sinne c. Is a note me thinkes that spoyles all the harmonie of the rest That upon such earnest entreaties the Scots were oblig'd to come in is not to be found among all those easie conditions made their double former returning in peace Their feare of a third warre to passe over their brethrens carkasses to themselves is a strong argument of their guilt that their advise some other assistance had passed over the late agreement made between His Majestie them to promote that horrid rebellion against him That so many intercessions with the King for a moderate reasonable accommodation had been used by them was a relique of Poperie they kept notwithstanding the reformation they had made they did truely supererogate in that worke no law of the three Kingdomes I take it making them umpires between the King his subjects nor is it yet revel'd to the world what divine authoritie they had as was pretended in their Remonstrance to come in the name of our Lord Master Iesus Christ to waâ—…ne the King that the guilt which cleav'd so fast to his throne soul was such as if not timeâ—…ie repented would involve him his postcritiâ—… under the wrath of the everliving God For how moderate how reasonable accommodation they mediated appeares in the 19 propositions to the substance of every one of which their unreasonable brethren adhaered to the end That they were at any time slighted rejected is a mere calumnie of the Reviewer ' he would have told us when where if he could That al they ask'd was not granted was upon unanswerable reasons which His Majestie render'd in his publike Declarations about the Treaties c. That they their fainting brethren were so easilie perswaded to enter into a Covenant together is no great mervaile His Majestie tells them Solemne leagues Covenants ...... are the common road used in all factions powerfull perturbations of state or Church ..... by such as ayâ—…e to subdue all to their owne will power under the disguizes of holie combinations The expresse articlâ—…s in the Covenant for the prâ—…servation of Royaltie c. are spun so fine woven so thin as that white vailâ—… can not hide the face of that blacke rebellious divel that is under it Whereof they being conscious that had been very well acquainted with the mysterie no lesse then an whole armie together conduct us to the perfect beholding the sweet countenance of this late Baal Berith as he lies We crave say they leave to beleeve that an accommodation with the King in the way termâ—…s you are upon or any at all as the case now stands that shall implie his restitution or shall not provide for his subjection to trial judgement would first not be just before God or man but many wayes evill Secondlie would not be safe 1. The Covenant engaging to the maters of religion publike interests primarilie absolutelie marke that with out any limitation after that to the preservation of the Kings person authoritie but with this restriction marke this too viz. In the preservation of the true religion liberties of the Kingdomes In this case though a Cavallier might make iâ—… a question yet who will not rationallie resolve it That the preceding maters of religion the publike interest are to be understood as the principal supreme maters engaged for that of the Kings person authoritie as inferiour subordinate to the other 2. That where persons joyning to make a mutuall covenant if the absent parties shall oppose it the maters contein'd in it surelie that person excludes himselfe from any claime to any benefit therefrom while he continues so refusing opposing So that you see notwithstanding the expresse articles for the preservation of Royaltie His Majestie may be brought to his trial all his posteritie too when the holie brethren can catch them be murder'd at their owne gates according to the expresse sense of severall articles in the Covenant for maintenance of religion libertie And what unkindnesse was here in the Scots to their King Besides whosoever will take the paines to compare the particulars in the Scotish Remonstrance which they brought in their hands when they came in upon the Covenant with those in the accursed Court proceeding against His late Royal Majestie may be able to doe Dorislaw Steel Cooke c. some litle courtesie in their credit pleade for them that they drew not up but onelie transscribed a charge brought long since from Edenburgh to London And yet what unkindnesse was here in the Scots to their King There is yet one thing more whereof upon this mention of Remonstrance Covenant I can not but advertize my reader having but lightlie touch'd upon it before That whereas the Scots in their Covenant confesse before God the world many sinnes whereof they were guiltie for which they desire to be humbled Viz. That they had not as they ought valued the inaestimable benefit of the Gospell That they had not laboured for the puritie power thereof That they had not endeavoured to receive Christ in their hearts marke that nor to walke worthie of him in their lives These men tell the King in their remonstrance That they come in the name of their Lord Master Iesus Christ to warne him about the guilt of I know not what sinnes they there heape together upon his soul. A very likelie storie to beleeve That Christ had sent them into England with this covenanting paper in their hands who had shut him out of doores very latelie would not receive him into their hearts Notwithstanding all the pretended glorious successe obteined more by the name then exploits of the Scotish armie the opposite partie was not so fullie subdued but that the multitude of garrisons beside Newarke which might have cost them deare surrender'd after His Majesties leaving Oxford make a
hearâ—… your late treatie was not so particular closse as to make what discoverie you wished aim'd at And what you did is not so authoriz'd as to strengthen your proofe His Royal too gracious concessions having met with such unworthie imprudent refusal by persons through habitual rebellion not yet disposed to their good As touching the case which the Bishop intimates I can not wonder the account of it so odious as not to be met with by your answer since it sets in your sight the horrour of your many yeares sinne with the guilt of which you would gladlie runne into dens caves or move the hills mountaines to cover you In the meane time in vaine you hope to have any the ancient Christians companie Who in times of their persecution never held publike Assemblies in their Edenburghs Imperial Cities never arm'd themselves to maintaine the divine ordinance of the Discipline Though had they done it litle would their praecedent availe you the just imposition of a Christian King being very unlike the heathen Emperous persecution Nor was the Presbyterie that divine ordinance of Discipline practiz'd by the perseâ—…uted in the wildernesse Mr. Baylie in this time by his affected diversions devious mazes having run himselfe halfe out of breath begins to thinke on the shortest way home to finde which he takes a large leape over the hedge by vertue of some Disciplinarian priviledge passeth two whole pages of consequence unanswer'd Perit libertas nisi illa conâ—…emnis quae â—…ugem imponuâ—… yet not so cleare but that one bramble hath catch'd him by the sleeve if the truth were known I beleeve many more have prick'd him to the heart for one of most danger I advise him to seeke out a timelie remedie stand to the charitie of his aequitable comparers for the rest 't is that sharpe quaestion which the Bishope propounds Who shall judge when the Church is corrupted the Magistrates or Church-men If the Magistrateâ—… why not over you aswell as others If the Church-men why not others aswell as you Mr. Gilespies Theorem because prefsing such downright rebellion he without any brotherlie love leaves on the shoulders of a single Presbyter will not afford one fingar of the Presbyterie to ease him though the tantamout be not so unconsequential as to need a stake to helpe it downe in a swallow It being very well know'n that if Mr. Baylie should not tantamont in this businesse the Assemblie brethren would give him a drench in the Scotish horne send him to grasse with the long-eard creatures as being no fit companie for the late more rational rebells in a Synod The consequence if it must need be such from one particular denied by none to a universal affirmative as strange as it lookes may be made good by the new Disciplinarian logike Mr. Baylie himselve having more then once profess'd an identitie in the Scotish with the Reformed disciplines abroad in the harmonie of which I finde such a canon as this Si Minister donum habet aliquid ad aedificationem conscribendi illud typis non mandabit quin prius a classe examinetur probetur From the Classe he knowes it takes a remove to the provincial Synod thence to the national Assemblie Now if the Reviewer will not tell us in what Assemblie Mr. Gilespie was censur'd or this theoreme of his disavow'd because it will be such a singular case as never was heard of Rebellion disclaim'd in a Scotish Presbyterian Assemblie otherwise then in a Catholike mist which never drops in any particulars he shall have the reputation of catching this unconsequence for once But as the Bishops sayth Take nothing hâ—…ld it fast if he can Beside he knowes there are many other such theoremes of Mr. Gilespies upon which the Bishop hath built many high accusations which the Discipline must acknowlege must be meant to be of that number which had the approbatorie suffrages of the Vniversities in Holland viz. Leyden Vtrecht or else he spake litle truth and as litle to the purpose in his Epistle Yet to helpe him to somewhat of better authoritie He is desir'd to take notice That the substance of this theoreme was not declin'd in a protestation made he knowes by whom in Edenburgh Parliament 1558. In the dutifull letter to the Queen Regent from the faythfull Congregation of Christ Iesus in Scotland 22. May 1549. In another from the Lords of the Congregation 2. Jul. 1559. In an answer to the Queenes proclamation by the Lords Baronâ—… other brethren of the Congregation 1559. In a declaration of the Lords against another proclamation of the Queenes 1559. To all these 't is undeniable that the Assemblies adhaer'd or indeed rather the Lords c to them In the Church Assemblie's supplication 28. May 1561. In the vote of the whole Assemblie 1563. In the Superintendents Ministers Commissioners letter to the Bishops and Pastours in England they write If authoritie urge you farther ye ought to oppose your selves boldlie not onelie to all power that dare extol it selfe against God but also against all such as darâ—… burthen the consciences of the faythfull they mean'd the same opposition themselves made in Scotland In the seventh article fram'd by the Assemblie 1567. Beside what was very particularlie pressed by Knox in Sermons Conferences letters c. all acknowledge the sense of several Assemblies But all these authorities are absolet the several ends of such speaches actions being long since accomplish'd in Scotland However M. Baylie denies that the maxime iâ—… hand was the fountaine of any our late miseries or the cause at all of the losse of our Soveraigne Fati ista culpa est nemo fit fato nocens If he had but in kindnesse delivered his meaning at large quitted aswell his independent brethren of their bloudie performance in the fift act as he doth the Presbyterian properties that caried on the rebellion in the foure first of the Tragoedie they might have masked merrilie together in their antike disguises of innocencie pointed out to some sillie credulous spectators the guilt of this horrid murder in the starres But I shall reach him a ladder where by he may ascend to the top of this truth not aninch higher then Edenburgh Crosse what else he wants when he comes there to doe justice accordinglie as he shall be enlightned upon his owne selfe for his share in this maxime unpardonable mischiefe The first step hereof begins neare the ground with the meane â—…aser sort of the people who on the 23. Jul. 1637. when by his Blessed Majesties command the service booke was to be read in Edenburgh Great Church fell into the extraordinarie wayes of clapping hands cursing outcries throwing stones at the windowes aiming at the Bishop with a stool Continuing this hubbub in the streets besâ—…tting the counsel house whether the reverend learned worthie Bishop of Galloway
hotter otherwhere would have runn the hazard to licke the Bishops faults out of the fire I wish you had help'd me to a better bargain of your silence not forc'd me to give you this which I am loth to part with in exchange for your blabbing That if all be true that is in print which for your credit I hope is not Your Discipline had no other then a Sodomite for its patron some thinke you may take your choyce of French or Scot. How this abomination hath been propagated with your Discipline though by it no Disciple I leave them to relate who to shame you into some speachlesse civilitie have had reason to be your Domestike observers if they can frame it by chast language in a riddle Yet because your Presbyterie shall gaine no credit if I can helpe it by any counterfeit innocence I will returne you a line or two in Latin which may informe you that such an ill weed hath grow'n even where the sharpe sickle of the Eldership hath praetended to cut downe all wickednesse before it Hoc tamen dissimulare non possum in Palatinatu nulla prius scandala taâ—… atrocia incidisse quam ea sint quae seniorum illic constitutorum culpa acciderunt Et quis obsâ—…ro eos postea seret correptores qui sceleratissimâ—…m hominem Siculum Sodomitam eundem pestilentissimum calumâ—…iatorem you inherite at least the upper halfe of his qualities impune elabi passi sunt ne ad Iudices legitimos traberetur If you name Bishop Aderton in your next you will force me to breake the bond of modestie with my Readers make me lay this horrid scene nearer home If you will shew your self a better Christian or Scholar strengthen your arguments with the ruines of Bishops doctrines where you finde them not take up the rubbish out of some few sinnes or lapses in their lives you may write your pleasure without a blush expect the like ingenuitie on this side Pseudon syncolletes .... leptotaton leron hiâ—…reus Excuse me sir if Aristophanes at praesent furnish me with no more honorable titles to salute you by for your ingenuous meritorious demeanour in the next paragraph Wherein you are pleas'd to pervert all that the Bishop mean'd innocentlie writ temperatelie sacrifice your soule to the Father of lies to gaine the countenance of your brethren in Holland Historical â—…ruth I hope is no slander Nor can it be their shame to keep peace in their Churches turne seditioâ—…s incendiaries out of doores But while you plead for these your owne brethren among them the rest holding not that point of your discipline what respect you beare to their vigilant Magistrates whom you taxe for putting out of their cities men zealous in their doctrine pressing the true practice of pietic c. I leave to some interpreter to tell them But my selfe shall tell you by the way that they joyne not with you in rejecting our Episcopacie as Anti-christian Name you what booke of theirs or person of any note that hath done it I am sure since you your English mates fell to worke with root branch Spanheim their great divinitie professour in Leyden held up his hands wished that all had been such as Arch-Bishop Vssher Bishop Morton then the order with such men he acknowledg'd would passe here wel enough So that it should seem in the rest there wanted onelie a conformitie in some such thing as Calvins opinions to qualifie them for a tolerable communion with the Dutch What their zealous Ministers have preached for practice of pietic suppression of haeresie schisme the Bishop is farre from calling or accounting any crime But because you croud into their zealous preachments the sanctification of the Sabbath-day in your Judaical sense If they pressed it in the rigour of your discipline their auditours use a large practical license to confute them To passe by their weeklie Sabbath mercatcs many publike faires one of which you I met with at the Hague I could have shewd you there the dancing on the ropes if not a dutch stage play for a need many other prettie sights to which you were invited with sounding of trumpets beating of drumes which is their businesse at this instant in another part of the reformed Provinces where I am I can tell you of several recreations I have observed beside playing on the ice obâ—…ected against the Ministers of St. Andrewes that were spectatours which I litle thought on when the poor Praelatical Clergie not many yeares since were cursed with Presbyterian bell booke candel for approving a narrower toleration in our Countrey Our persecutions have help'd us to this some other experience whereby we shall be hereafter enabled to unmaske your adventurous impudencie to the world Whether the streame of Presbyterian or Praelatical ermons have run clearer from contempt of piâ—…tie from silence flaterie c. may be seen by him that will looke into these last 12 yeares current of the times If the vigilant Bishops such as their Lordships of Derrie Downe purg'd their chanels from the filthie doctrines rebellious obstructions of Blaire Levingstone Hamilton Cuningham others they did it for the more even passage of pure Primitive reformation The zeale of these men was eating out the foundation of Gods house their swelling waters did overflow the bankes of government where they came Their impious doctrines made them first be turn'd out of Scotland where Blaire had been before expelled the Vniversitie of Glasgow by the Professours for teaching his scholars in his lectures upon Aristotle that Monarchicall government was unlawfull the lawfullnesse whereof Mr. Baylie accounts part of the Prelates profanitie errours Vpon the like misdemeanour the same justice overtoke them in Ireland but at a time as it hapened when Christs Covenanting Antimonarchical Kingdome began to be reedified in Scotland which wanting such bold pieces to supportit their blasphemous treasonables sermons to cement it they were very heartlie welcom'd praeferred to places of greatest eminencie in that Church What a singular difference there is in the point of exemption from secular jurisdiction between the Geneva Discipline yours the proceedings in the next paragraph will shew And what person convict of or notorious for those crimes that you reckon was ever priviledg'd by the spiritual Court you are to mention Your generals are aire the Bishop craves no favour of your extraordinarie charitie to conceale The Declaration 1584 might be penned by Mr. Patrike Adamson yet be King Iames's If his Majestie declin'd the acknowledgement thereof the yeare after when your Rebells had seiz'd upon his person at Sterlin that may very well be imputed to his feare Nor was that the onâ—…lie negative subscription you extorted from your prisoner that yeare who when at libertie afterward with the same hand blotted out that which when you had the
the civile inconvenients like those after leters of horning And how easilie all for great crimes was commuted for your brother Didoclave complaineth at large Where as you run againe from the severitie in your lawes to the clemencie in your practice though that be no answer to the Bishop who presseth upon your Canon your diverse late yeares crueltie which still is continued confutes you in the face of the world In which if your sentence tooke place in heaven as it doth to their confusion on earth so many have payd the price of their soules for observance of the first fift Commandements their dutie to God obedience to their King Your parenthesis that hookes in the greatnesse of sinnes is convict by the slight peccadilloe forementioned And the length of your processe shall be cut short by one instance in the forenamd Bishop Guthrie who was never so much as admonish'd by a brother nor summond by a messenger unlesse to yeild up his house to Rob. Monroe being caried to Edenburgh not to have trial but to heare that sentence had passed upon him before he came In the case of fugitives your Discipline makes no distinction not arbitrarie between the contumacious and timerous And he that stands to your account shall come short of his reckoning on mercie if your flying rowle can reach his soul at a distance aswell as to be sure it shall consume the timber and stones of his house that 's at hand CHAPTER XII The Presbyterie a burthen to the Nobilitie Ministrie and all Orders whatsoever YOu know what Constantine sayd concerning the Arians .... Christe Christe Kyrie Kyrie ti depote hemâ—…s to lesterion hosemeran titroskeâ—… He complaind that when their hainous crimes whereof they were accused had wounded their heads and the deformitie of Shame spread over their faces their violent boldnesse stood fiercelie in opposition to the truth They wept not in Sorrow but roar'd in madnesse with a grinding of their teeth The Presbyterians I see by many passages in this chapter want neither impudence nor rage to outface and raile as much as any haeretikes whatsoever when once their discipline is touched to the quicke The Praelatical malice seemes no way exorbitant by this supplement of the Bishops wherein his just indignation chaceth all the remaining eccentrike motions of these planets these starres that wander from the fixed beauties in the firmament of the Church If you can but finde patience or your stomake will serve you to returne to your owne vomit and licke up your language the aire will be cleansed which was become unfavouriâ—… onelie by the uncomelinesse of your speach The Nobilitie and Gentrie in all parts of Britaine have had too long and unhapie experience of the difference between the fatherlie counsels or friendlie correction of Bishops whom Religious Princes in honour of their function have dignified with the title of Barons and priviledge of Peeres and the unsufferable insolencies of Presbyters whose peacockes tailes that traine it daylie in the vulgar dust and sweep together the raskalitie of the people are poudlie spread and fanned in their faces Those in England which were none of the best that refused no hazard to shake off that easie yoke which was layd upon them by the hands and institution of Christ have broke their neckes in their hast you see their honour buried in the grave The Scotish Nobilitie that lead them the way having serv'd allmost a double apprentiship at the trade alas groane for their freedome yet dare not aske it from him whose mercie they feare must not be so injurious to justice as after so many rebellions and murders especiallie that unpardonable parricide to redeem them from bondage and to quit the for feit of their lives and estates Therefore they chuse rather unhapie choyce between necessitie and nothing to renew their slaverie Were the British Bishops seâ—… downe againe and which they may be in beter earnest then you meane it well warâ—…ed in their repaired sees as they would looke to receive a filial respect so they would doubtlesse repay a paternal Christian care of the Nobilitie and Gentrie in their charge Those that heretofore did not if any did not had no natures nor principles befitting their dignities and till they have changed what they had for such 't is pitie if they survive they shovld be reenstated You should doe well to name those that set their feet on the neckes of the greatest Peeres but withall to set downe how long they could keep their footing there when a just appeale had been made to the capital power that was above them If the publike too scandalous license of any Peere how great soever receiv'd at their mouthes a friendlie rebuke If after that his untractable confidence in sinne some legal restraint or fatherlie chastisement at their hands when Gods impartial and irrespective commandements are alter'd when Christian lawes that are consonant repeal'd they may be then not till then discharg'd of this dutie and visited by Master Baylie when he shewes his commission for their arrogance in the exercise of any oppression or tyrannie in their Courts In the pretie peice that followes Master Baylie hath play'd the part of Pauson the painter in Plutarch and artificiallie draw'n the Presbyterian horse in his ful career giving as he thinkes every limme its due proportion to grace him in that posture But when with Pausons customer we turne the table and lay the beast on his backe his designe is spoyl'd and that uglie spectacle of a founder'd jade drawes contempt and laughter from all judicious passengers that behold it That every small Congregation in Scotland can furnish your Elderships with wise pious and learned men by the dozen will never be credited till we get some Historical assurance that when all good parts pietie and prudence were divorced from Canaan Athens Lacedaemon they made a voyage to Scotland to court the wilde affections of the Presbyters in the North. For the double portion of discretion and learning in your Classical Presbyterie which drawes in by fifteens the Nobilitie Gentrie you runne the adventure of losing a beter inheritance if you take St. Pauls to meane that in the leter as you sometimes tell us when you are angrie with Court and our Academical Clergie Not many wisemen .... not many noble 1. Cor. 1. 26. But it is in truth your owne carnal wisdome not so much to adde worth as to arrogate power to and make absolute the authoritie of your Consistorie that in other mens names you may Lord it over not onelie the Common people but the Senate as he told some of your kindred that had searched every secret corner in your spiritual house Consistorium ut dominari possit Senatui asciscit pro senioribus Consules Senatores Optimates Where if persons of qualitie be wanting to complete your number you goe to plow with an oxe and an asse yoke a Count and
themselves their Prince's displeasure for a Rethorical libertie used in their behalfe shall be pay'd for their paines with the honourable essay of men sold unto sin enemies to God and all godlinesse the L. Sempils reward which he had from Iohn Knox as this gratefull Presbyter hath registred in his storie They that bridle the rage of their Princes the phrase usd as occasion serves will not sticke to halter the heads of their Nobles if they will neither leade nor drive but molest the progresse of their Presbyterian designes Your Historical Vindication I hope is no new nam'd Logike to prove negatives of fact your detraction from the credit of many irrefragable authours that Historize that insolent speach uttered by Bruce lookes more like a calumnie then their relation to a fâ—…ble And yet such a superstitious reverence is payd by your fond brother Didoclave to the memorie of his name that he could be content to pin his fayth on his sleeve and hang his soul at his girdle Anima mâ—…a cum anima tua Bruci si ex aliena fide esset pendendum and were there to be but one priviledge of aeternal residence in heaven he thinkes neither Patriach nor Prophet Apostle nor Martyr no nor the Virgin Mary her selfe were likelie to carie it from Bruce Which compar'd with King Iames's opinion of him as a perfidious madman that had a whirligigge in his head delivered after to many experiments of his rebellious zeale and frantike restivenesse is enough to condemne both saine and votarie to some bedlam purgatorie before imposture can fixe or facilitie of fancie finde these new imaginarie lights among the starres Your following invective is writ with Arrius's quill and by such scribling you gaine the title that Constantine gave him patroctonoâ—… epieiceias discovering your selfe to be a parricide of aequitie murdering truth in your relation and justice in your parallel His Lordship takes himselfe not concern'd in this case to recollect 800. yeares Historie of Europe to picke out of the pietie humilitie of many Reverend Bishops the pride and passionate errours of some few Noâ—… hath he malice enough with you to make that the nature of their office which hath been some litle monstrositie of minde by ill habits accidental to their persons Beside what among the Papists the nobilitie by birth of many Bishops concurring with the received dominion and large revenve of their Spiritual praeferment may elevate their thoughts and enhaunce their owne opinion of themselves if impardonable addes litle to the condemnation of ours which partake in litle with them but their titles The universal supremacie which the Pope arrogates aswell over Kings as Bishops may puffe up a litle Cardinal that is neare him in his purple possesse him with a conceit that he may Write himselfe companion to a King whom he thinkes but is mistaken oblig'd in Spiritual humilitie to lie prostrate at his holinesse foot and kisse his slipper But the same Kings soveraigntie in Ecclesiasticis at home secur'd him from all such contestation with his Bishops Though had it not the argument from a Cardinal in Rome to a Praelate in England will hardlie finde a topike Those in Scotland take themselves as capable of honour conferr'd upon their order as their Popish praedecâ—…ssours Nor are such legal establishments if not of right of Princelie favour to becast away in complement Nor were they to make an unnecessarie distance out of forme when the material meaning of their vicinitie to the throne was the neare concernment of their counsel to the King Orthodoxe Monarchs as well as Papists having doubting consciences and orthodoxe Bishops as good abilities to resolve them I have not heard they crowded much or quickened their pace to get the doore of the Earles c. Their Provincial that with much humilitie and respect unto their H. H. tookeit was lead to it by the hand that had exalted them or their progernitours But for the reason of praecedence which I guesse to be your meaning you were best review the Heralds office and reforme it Poorpâ—…dants are not to be reproached for making a litle diocese of their Schooles Priests being charged to make such of their houses and from the experimental regiment of boyes raising their abilities by honest endeavours to the meriting an higher Episcopate of men Nor their conscientious demeanour in that office to be aesteemed the arrogancie of their order if it move Kings to commit the white staves to the crosiar and great seales to be under the keyes of the Church The most capricioâ—…s of them all and most contentious for the honour which I thinke were none but such as did you too much service when they had it were many straines below your Presbyterie of Knoxes Bruces c. Who have contested with Kings for their Scepters which with white staves and seales they brought under the pedantike jurisdiction of their rod. Never have Bishops so ruffled it as many base borne Presbyters with the secret Counsel To whose Consistories all Courts of Iustice were faine to doe homage the greatest Lords of the land become subordinate Elders to the parson of their parish It 's not so long that yet it can be forgoten since a most violent and malicious man call'd the Goodman of Earlstounne aclient of the E. Argile for interrupting of divine service forceable overturning the Communion Table in his Parish Kirke thâ—…eatning and abusing the Minister with many other such enormous crimes was fined but the fine never exacted by the High Commission and confined for a season The E. Argile complain'd of his hard usâ—…ge to the Lords of Counsell and enformed against the Bishop of Galloway that he promised to him somewhat which he had not perfâ—…rmed The Bishop denied the promise gainsayd what the Earle alledged whereupon sayd the Earle If you say so 't is as much as if I lie The Bishop modestlie replied I doe not say so but I beseech your Lp. to call your selfe beter to minde you will finde it as I say This is giving the lie because he would not take it on himselfe and ruffling with a great Lord because he would not be ruffled out of a just vindication of the truth yeild his consent that a Counsel Table should approve turning the communion table out of the Church The Reviewers should doe well to bring in his accounts fuller when he reckons with Bishops for braving of Noblemen All Presbyterians are heterodoxe to all good Catholike Christians with whom Episcopacie is so necessarie a truth as next to the divine institution Vniversalitie Vbiquitie and perpetuitie can render it Confingant tale aliquid haeretici nihil promovebunt Could your invention feigne such authoritie to Presbyterie yet your doctrine would diversifie you into a sect What the Bishops following words cleare shall not one whit be clouded by any obscuritie in my replie though the strongest eradiations that come from them would
communication though advised by the Church they were put to purge themselves from the imputation of Poperie in practizing auricular confession and injunction of penance Your order and practice is to keep off from the holie Table not such onelie as conjunctive are grosselie and willfullie but divisivé intoo strict aÌ„ sense grosselie or willfullie ignorant Touching which allthough their negligence is inexcusable and their dulnesse pitiable yet that your act of cruel jurisdiction is justified by no divine command nor Catholike example If never any for simple ignorance were excommunicated in Scotland You must be rebuk'd for transgressing your rule and failing in your dutie as your Kirke pleaseth thus to declare it In sufferable we judge it that men be permitted to live and continue in ignorance as Members of the Kirke Whether greater tyrannie were exerciz'd in the High Commission Courts or your Consistories your aequitable comparers by this time are not to seeke What excesse on your side hath been evidenc'd is here resumed onelie to aggravate your floud of boundlesse crueltie by the many heads from which it issues and the cataracts it powres upon the poor people in every parish The Bishops playd indeed the Râ—…x in that their Court because they acted in it by authoritie and deputation from the King But you and your Brethren playd the Rebells to the purpose when you first rioted then rebell'd and covenanted before er you supplicated to suppresse it K. Ch. 1. by his grace and too fluent charitie praevented the violence intended by your Parliament though he found no thankes nor yet acceptance at your hands His proclamation being rudelie encountred with a rebellious protestation read by Iohnston The King Anticlerical Parliament in England that alasse joind hands in a maner yet scarce agreed to throw downe the other about their eares without which the Praelates had no power lesse then no reason if it might be to let it fall have not onelie covered the poor Bishops with the ruine of that Court but since hands and hearts were divided the laborious Lords and Commons without him have pull'd the Fabrike of both Houses and of Monarchie upon themselves The Congregational Eldership a thing wheresoever more to be jeerd at and lesse endured then a Commission is enjoy'd with so much more comfort among other of the Reformed then in Scotland as we are eye witnesses of lesse authoritie rigour in it And while I am writing this Replie one of the Reformed Presbyters your Countreyman ingenuouslie confesseth to me that he thinkes in his conscience the praesent Kirke tyrannie in Scotland he speakes it indeed rather of the practice then rule is farre beyond what ever could be alledged against our Bishops or the Pope And that if he others of his minde tooke the constitution of that government every where to be the same as it is executed in Scotland they would not continue a day longer in that communion The lawes of these Scotish Elderships taken out of Holie scripture can not be very particular in many cases Their Acts of superiour judicatories doe not can not so specifie interpretative Scandals nor in all occurring possibilities proportion corporal punishments or pecuniarie mulcts in the arbitrement of which lies the tyrannie of this petie Aristocratie and most ridiculouslie many times used in cutting halfe the haire shaving beards c. as before now hath been objected by others that having I beleeve seen it better know it In the abuses by such censures and difficultie of some cases when appeale is made to a Synod the Bishop tells you which you observe not that the shortnesse of its continuance can afford the condition of the persons will afford litle reliefe Your dozen of the most able pious plowmen in many parishes with an unexperienc'd illiterate Pastour praesiding in their Councel are no very reverend Iudges in many cases And what pitifull creatures they must be of necessitie in some places may be guessed untill this quaestion be answer'd which is sent you from another Countreyman of yours an honest able Divine Whether you have not heard of Countrey Churches in Scotland especiallie amongst the Saints of Argile where not three hapilie not one in the whole parish could reade Amphictyonum consessus A very honourable bench A Senate that no doubt would strike greater amazement but upon other reasons then the Romane if any foraigner should behold them In that you say the Episcopal way is to have no discipline at all in any congregation you are somewhat more hard hearted then your brethren Who acknowledge some of the functional rubbish of your Temple building Elders and Deacons upon the shoulders of our Church wardens Sidemen and Collectours part of whose charge is to observe maners inquire out ilâ—… livers admonish the scandalous and praesent them to the ordinarie To direct them in this dutie the Bishops articles are disspersed and an Audit held of their account at every visitation The officials pleasure regulates not their information which is to be as impartial as an oath can make it His conscience commonlie is not to large though his learning and wisdome be of greater extension then the Elders What power he exerciseth is by law and custome In correctionis negotijs alia quidem facient omnia excommunication is more â—…iselie and conscientiouslie excepted quae de jure possunt solent fieri Constit. 1571 To the Presbyterian tendernesse of medling with domestike infirmities somewhat is sayd allreadie which the Answerer by leter thus avoucheth It is certaine that a foolish man revealing foolishlie his faults to his wife the zealous wife upon some quarelling betwixt her and her husband hath gone to a good Minister revealed what was told her and the honest impertial Minister hath convented the man charged him with his sinne and made him confesse satisfie and doe penance publikelie Here the flagrant scandal was onelie the fire or furie that broke out of a weake womans breast into a pragmatical Presbyters eares whose heade is no sanctuarie for spiritual secrecies but his curiositie the mine that under workes the foundation of private families and palaces too whereof that of Mary Queen of Scots may be a formidable and lamentable example and when jealousies faile of materiall truth in the discoverie to blow them up with malicious calumnies what they can For suits and differences incident between Pastour and flocke Lay Elder and his neighbour the passion upon which perverts blindes the eyes of the wisest men that are your Congregational or Classical Iudges you passe quietlie by it as having nothing to say for it These are the great injuries and hurts which make the Scotish Discipline Scandalous to all the Reformed world being prov'd destructive to the just praerogative of Kings the power of Parliaments the libertie of subjects enslaving all orders of men where it takes place to the arbitrarie jurisdiction of a corrupt Synod and that commonlie moderated by the usurped
ordinarie as you can name the Parliament that ever trod in it before We in England having no such custome nor indeed any where the true Churches of God as to alter religion and government without the King To your quaestion which ever shelters fraud in universals I particularlie answer and to our purpose 1. That the Houses of Parliament are not to begin with an ordinance for a covenantor â—…ath to change the lawes of the Realme to abolish the Discipline of the Church and the Liturgie lawfullie established by the sword which are the Bishops words before the Kings consent be sought to that beginning much lesse when his dissent is foreknow'n of that and all proceedings in that kinde 2. An ordinance of the Lords and Commons without and against the King iâ—… no good warrant to change such lawes during the sitting of the Parliament 3. No law nor lawfull custome of England debarres the King by dissenting to stop that change Untill which three assertions be refuted in law it will be needlesse to debate the qualifications and exceptions which can be none of moment in this case against the Kings consent requisite to turne an ordinance into a law But you take His Majestics concessions to have praevented all can be sayd in the praesent case Behold you that kindled the fire in his breast here compasse yourselves with the sparkes of his consent which charitie would have suffered to exspire with the breath that brought them forth or buried in his ashes which they made Yet can not you walke by the light of thiâ—… fire unto the full accomplishment of your ends His successour being not yet conveighd into any such place as Holmebye or Carisbrooke Castle where you would have him some such fatal haereditarie confinement being the fairest apologie if any when he should subscribe so many of your unconscionable desires and write after his Father in the extremitie of misfortune who as litle intended what himselfe accounted his failings for his copie as he desired his undeserved miseries should be a patrimonie transmitted to him by your hands As to the obtaining of what iâ—… lacking your way is not so faire in which visiblie lies the same Scripture Antiquitie law reason conscience and honour which heretofore hindred your journey to the end of your hopes the obtaining His Majesties plenarie consent Who did not agree to if you meane approve of the rooting out Episcopacie in Scotland That he gave so much way to such wild boares as were in your Presbyterie to doe it he afterward repented and you rewarded him not so well as that his Royal sonne should be encouraged to purchase sorow at so deare a rate 2. He was not willing allthough he yeilded to have them put out of the House of Peeres in England and Ireland out of a generous scorne of your uncharitable susspicion that he would have them there onelie because he was to make use of their votes in State affaires 3 He divested them of civile power hoping to perswade such as your Lay Presbyters by the objections made against them out of the Ecclesiasticall which they more irrationallie usurped 4. He joined Presbyters with them for ordination because he found it before seldome administred without them But he never made them coordinate in nor aequiparticipant of that power He joined them for spiritual jurisaiction as being a fit meanes to avoyd .... partialities incident to one man And tyrannie which becomes no Christians least of all Churchmen And thirdlie to take away from them the burden and Odium of affaires which was a courteous diminution in such times How sacrilegiouslie you rob the Temple of Memorie of the pillar he set up in the period of your Treatie and erect in the place an impious calumnie of his abolishing Episcopacie totallie name and thing will be seen by part of his inscription or ultimate answer to the Rebell Commissioners paper about the Church The words are these .... His Majestie doth againe clearlie professe That he can not with a good conscience consent to the total abolition of the function and power of Bishops nor to the intire and absolute alienation of their lands as is desired because he is yet perswaded in his judgement that the former is of Apostolical institution and that to take away the later is sacriledge ..... And if his two Houses shall not thinke fit to recede from the strictnesse of their demands in these particulars His Majestie can with more comfort cast himselfe upon his Saviours goodnesse to support him and defend him from all afflictions how great soever that may befall him then for any politike consideration which may seemâ—… to be a meanes to restore him deprive himselfe of the inward tranquillitie of a quiet minde And some of his last words were I am firme to primitive Episcopacie not to have it extirpated if I can hinder it He sayd indeed that by his former answer he had totallie suspended Episcopal government for three yeares after the sayd time limited the same in the power of ordination and jurisdiction Which the Commissioners he dealt with so litle thought Tantamont to a perpetual abolition that they sayd it met not with their feares nor could praevent the inconvenienceâ—… which must necessarilie follow upon the returne of Bishops and the power which he reserved to them after that time For that a Bishop so qualified as â—…is Majestie expressed should rise againe then they declared whollie in his choyce unavoydable by Parliament if they agreed not But behold a pretie peice of aequivocation call'd Anti-christian Iesuitisme by these Rabbi Presbyters of old to draw their dull Commissioners out of the mire and as good as inke for ivorie to wash them cleane His Majestie suspended it till he and his Parliament should agree All and every one in both Houses had abjured Episcopacie by solemne oath and Covenant and so in no hazard ever to agree with him Ergo He must either agree with them that is likewise abjure which is abolition or coutinue perpetuallie his suspension which is Tantamont unto it This is very well orderd especiallie if you call to minde somewhat else that was condition'd for viz. That twentie Divines of His Majesties nomination being added unto the Assemblie were to have a free consultation debate whence it might be determin'd by His Majestie and his two Houses how Church government c should be setled after the sayd time or sooner if differences might be agreed A very free debate when all demonstrative reasons should be forespoken to be silenced by an oath And a very conscionable treatie That a faction in both Houses should be without the restitution of the rest that were beter temper'd the men that should continue siting not onelie 3. yeares but 300 if they could live so long because sworne not to yeild a syllable of their owne tearmes Yet because you thinke your selfe so witie in your sophistrie let me aske you What assurance