and that the Magistrates could not without doing infinite injury to the Service of God the Honour of the Prince and the Authority of Government forbear commanding the Officers and Towns Servants to beat off the Rabble that opposed their entry into the Church And to this it was subjoyned That if they would lay down their Arms or go home in peace and forbear the encouraging and protecting of the Rabble in those Vproars they could return in the same peaceable way from the Church that they came into it But this they absolutely refused to do telling us They could not desert their Sisters the Women that by this time were assembled in great numbers upon the Streets and in the Church-yard After this they took up the Names of the People of the best Quality in Church and then they hurried us out by Fives and Sixes at several Doors of the Cathedral and so exposed us to the Fury of the Rabble which we had escap'd if thâ—y had pâ—rmitted us to go out in a Body Others of us they pretended to conduct by Guards but carried us no further than into the very midâ—le of the Rabble The whole Congregation being thus maliciously dissipated very few of them did escape without Wounds or Blows and particularly the Lord Boyd was rudely treated and had his Sword taken from him Sir Iohn Bell had above a hundred Snow-balls thrown at him The Laird of Borrowfield and his Lady together with his two Brothers Iames and William Walkinshawes were five or six several times beaten to the Ground Iames Corbeit was very dangerously wounded in the Head with the stroke of a Syth George Graham one of the late Bailies of the Town was dâ—eply cut on the Head in two places Doctor Wright and his Lady and together with them her Mother and Sisters and several other Women were very roughly handled and beaten Mrs. Anna Paterson Daughter to the Archbishop of the Place Mrs. Margaret Fleiming and several other Gentlewomen were cruelly pinch'd after their Cloaths were torn off them There was Scores of others severely beaten and bruised which would be tedious to make mâ—ntion of here but only this we must observe There was a certain Carpenter who was so dangerously wounded so that he lyeth now beyond hopes of Recovery by four armed Men that promised to conduct him through the Rabble and to whose protection he innocently committed himself This is a true Account of what pass'd upon Sunday last being the 17th of February 1689. which I as Mâ—gistrate of Glasgow in absence of my Lord Provost give under my Hand as Truth Iames Gibsone For the further Testification of the Premises we under Subscribers attest the same Io. Gillhagie Patrick Bell. The Sufferings of Gideon Brown Sir TO obviate all Misrepresentations of my Treatment at Smelholm I give you this true and impartial account according to your desire Upon the first Saturday of February 1689. George Dickson Cottar to the Lair of Smelholm a profest Cameronian brought to me an unsubscribed Paper in the presence of my Family in the which he in name of the Parochine ordains me to cease from the Exercise of my Ministry there pretending in it that I had no call from the People and that I was an Intruder and had brought Troopers among them with this certification that they would force and compel me to do it This much troubled me to be upbraided for that of which I was never guilty and that by Persons whom often I kept from the lash of the Law and who had constantly heard me till the late Toleration and frequently taken the Sacrament from me but from the consideration of our Saviours Treatment from those to whom he was ever doing good I comforted my self and resolved patiently to bear and undergo this present Disaster and whatever might follow thereupon This being represented to the Laird Smelholm he advised me for a day to cease from Preaching and withdraw which accordingly I did The next Lords day I returned laying aside all Fears not willing so easily and suddenly to be put from the Exercise of my Ministry and it pleased the Lord to grant to me and to continue with me a safe Exercise of my Ministry without disturbance until the fourteenth of April hereafter which was the Lords day on which day the Scum of that People most of them not above the quality of a Servant yet all dwelling under the Laird of Smelholm except two and newly insâ—igated by one George Dickson Preacher in a Meeting-house near by as I am credibly informed did assemble with Staves and Battoons having on Saturday before warned me by a second Summons and taking away the Bell-rope to oppose me that day the Laird of Smelholm being acquainted by me of the said intended Uproar at the ordinary time of convening came to the Church-yard I following with my Family and after some communing with the said Rabble his Tenants who had been there from six a Clock in the morning prevailed to make patent Doors and having enterâ—d the Pulpiâ— and begun to Pray immediately the said George Dickson having received the Hire of eighteen Pence from the rest as he himself confess'd afterwards in my Beadles hearing approached furiously to draw me out of the Pulpit which a Son of mine of sixteen years of Age observing stop'd him before he came near me upon which there came tâ—n about the Boy pulling the Hair off his Head tearing his Hat Cloak and Neckcloth which extorted from his Mother these words in the midst of the Church Murder Murder and forced me from the Pulpit at length the Laird quieted them Upon all this I took Witnesses and withdrew with my Family to the Neighbour Church ever after that they put Cattle of all sorts into the Church frequently threatned my self watched every Lords day for my coming to Church not to Hear me but Harm me O the Sin of Stoning of the Prophets which brought sad Judgments on the Guilty of Old is now frequently among us practised the Lord grant Amendment This forced me to Preach in my own House while after Whitsunday and then it being reported to me by some that if I preached any more in the House the said Rabble would eject me and my Family I ceased there and preached in some Neighbour Churches At length they caused cite me before the Council Sept. 28. where for not praying for K. W. Nominatim in my House and not reading the Proclamation there I was deprived by the Council and appointed to remove from my Manse at Mertimas to which I gave Obedience at the time the Laird assuring me that he could not keep his People off me and that some had sworn to him that they would eject me be the event never so Hazardous and came to the City of Edinburg with my whole Family intending there the Education of my seven Children at Colledge and Schools This is a true Narration of what befel me at Smelholm among that People who kindly received and
of the Meeting of the Estates and the Act of Council pursuant thereof may attain their intended Design and Effect with the greater Expedition and least Expenses to the Leidges The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority do invite and allow not only the Parochioners and Hearers of such Ministers as have Disobeyed but also the Heretors of these Parochines and the Shâ—riffs or their Deputs and Magistrates of Burghs Respective and the Members of this Currant Parliament within their Respective Bounds to cause Cite such Ministers before the Privy Council and hereby grants Warrand to Messengers at Arms for Citing them and such Witnesses as are necessary they delivering a Copy of these Presents either in Print or in Writ Signed by their Hand to each Minister that shall be Cited by them to any Tuesday or Thursday six days after the Citation for all on this side the River Tay and Fifteen days for all beyond the said River That such Ministers who have not given Obedience to the said Act of the Meeting of the Estates may by a Legal Sentence be Deprived according thereto and Appoints the Returns of these Executions to be Inrolled by the Clerk of Privy Council and called before the Lords at their respective days of Compearance Declaring that these Presents are but prejudice of any Citations already given or to be given either upon the former Act of Council or upon Warrands from the Council-Board And Ordains these Presents to be printed and published by the Macers of Privy Council at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh that none may pretend Ignorance Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary I John Dickson Macer by virtue of the above-written Proclamation and Warrand Summond Warne and Charge you Mr. James Gray Minister at Kelso to Compear before the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council at Edinburgh or where it shall happen them to be for the time upon the Third day of September next to come in the hour of cause to answer at the instance of Sir John Dalrymple Younger of Stairs his Majesties Advocate for his Highness's Interest and John Laidlaw Tayler in Maxwel-heugh and John Laidlaw Wright in Kelso for themselves and in Name and behalf of the Parochine of Kelso to the effect and for the cause above written with Certification conform to the above-written Proclamation and Warrand direct to me their anent Per Actum Dominorum Secreti Consilii DICKSON Messenger This is the Form of the Summons appointed by the Council to be given to the Ministers or left at their Houses if they happened to be from home A Declaration by His Highness the Prince of Orange for the keeping of the Peace c. in the Kingdom of Scotland William Henry by the Grace of God Prince of Orange c. WHereas the Lords and Gentlemen of the Kingdom of Scotland met at Whitehall at our desire to advise Us what was to be done for Securing the Protestant Religion and Restoring the Laws and Liberties of that Kingdom have desired us to Call a Meeting of the Estates in March next and in the mean while to take upon Us the Administration of publick Affairs both Civil and Military the Disposal of the publick Revenue and Forâ—râ—sses and the doing every thing necessary for the Preservation of Peace We being desirous to omit nothing that may tend to the publick Good and Happiness of that Kingdom have in pursuance of the said Advice issued forth our Orders for Calling of the said Meeting of the Estates And to the end that in the mean time the publick Peace and the Fortresses may be secured and the Revenue collected we do hereby Will and Require all Persons being Protestants that are at present in the Possession of the Offices of Sheriffs Justices of Peace Marshals of Burghs Bailies of Regalities Stewards of Stewartries Governours or Lieutenants of Fortresses Keepers of Prisons or Prisoners or in the Possession of any Inferior Offices and â—aces of the like Nature and likewise all Persons being Protestants that are in the Possession of any Office or Imployment in Collecting Receiving Managing or Ordering of the publick Revenue to take upon them and to continue in the Exercise of the saids Offices and Places respectively doing and ordering every thing which the Trust reposed in them according to the Nature of the saids Offices requires to be done and ordered in the usual Manner Form and Method And we do in a particular Manner Authorize Impower and Require such of them to whom the Care of Preserving the Peace and Quiet of the Nation belongs to use all diligence for Supprâ—ssing all Routs Tumults Disorders Violencies and such other unwarrantable Practices as are contrary to it And we do hereby expresly prohibit and discharge all Disturbance and Violence upon the account of Religion or the Exercise thereof or any such like Pretence and that no Interruption be made or if any hath been made that it cease in the free and peaceable Exercise of Religion whether it be in the Churches or in publick and private Meetings of those of a different Perswasion Requiring like as we do hereby require all Protestants as they love the good of their Country and Religion and are willing in their several Stations and Capacities to concur with Us in our Endeavours to bring Matters to a happy and desirable Settlement that they will live peaceably together and without disquieting or molesting one another Enjoy their several Opinions and Forms of Worship whether according to Law or otherways with the same Freedom and in the same manner in which they did enjoy them in the month of October last till such time as by regular and legal Methods a due Temper may be fallen on for composing and settling those Differences And to the end that the Peace may be the more effectually secured We require all Men or numbers of Men in Arms by vertue of any Order or Authority and under any Title and Designation whatsoever whether they be standing Forces or Militia Forces modelled into regular Troops and kept on foot as standing Forces to separate dismiss and disband themselves Likewise we do hereby Disband them and appoint them to retire to their respective Dwellings with full assurance to them that care shall be taken in due time for their having their Pay if any shall be found due to them And we do farther prohibit and discharge all Persons in time coming to take Arms or to continue in Arms upon any pretence whatsoever with a Commission or express Order from Us. Excepting from what is above written likeas we do hereby except the Garisons of the Fortresses and the Company of Foot entertained by the Town of Edinburgh for the Guard of the said Town whom we do appoint to continue in the Exercise of their Duty they being Protestants in the said Garisons and Towns And whereas several Roman Catholicks have been and are still in
Disposition Approve of the said Motion as Dutiful and Necessary at the time And therefore in His Majesties Name and Authority Do Command a Solemn and publick Fast and day of Humiliation to be Religiously and Sincerely Observed throughout this Kingdom both in Churches and Meeting-Houses as they would avert Wrath and procure and continue Blessings to this Kingdom and that all Persons whatsoever may send up their Fervent Prayers and Supplications to Almighâ—y God That He would pour out upon all Ranks a Spirit of Grace and Supplication that they may Mourn for all their Iniquities and more especially that God would pour forth upon King WILLIAM and Queen MARY and upon all inferior Magistrates and Counsellors a Spirit of Wisdom for Government and Zeal for God His Church and Work in this Land as the present Case of both do call for and that God may preserve Them for carrying on that great Work which he hath so Gloriously and Seasonably begun by Them and that God would Countenance and Bless with Success the Armies by Sea and Land Raised for the Defence of the Protestant Religion and more especially that God would pour forth a Spirit of Holiness upon them lest their Sins and ours may provoke God againâ— them in the Day of Battel and that he would Bless all Means for the Settlement of Church and State That God would Bless the Season of the Year and give Seasonable Weather for Cutting Down and gathering in the Fruits of the Earth that the Stroke of Famine which God hath frequently Threatned the Nation with may be Averted And the saids Lords of His Majesties Privy Council do in Name and Authority foresaid Command and Charge that the said Solemn and publick Fast be Religiously and devoutly performed both in Churches and Meeting-Houses by all Ranks and Degrees of persons within this Kingdom on this side of the Water of Tay upon Sunday the Fifteenth day of September next to come and by all others be-north the same upon Sunday thereafter the Twenty second day of the said month of September And to the End that this part of Divine Worship so pious and Necessary may be punctually kept upon the respective Days above-mentioned They Ordain Sir William Lockhart Solâ—icitor in the most convenient and proper way to dispatch and send Copies hereof to the Sheriffs their Deputs and Clerks of the several Shires of this Kingdom to be by them published at the Mâ—râ—at Crosses of the Head Burghs upon receipt thereof and immediately sent to the several Ministers both of Churches and Meeting-Houses that upon the Lords-day immediately preceding the Fast and upon the respective Days of the publick Fast and Humiliation the Ministers may read and intimate this Proclamation from the Pulpit in every Parish Church and Meeting-House and that they Exhort all persons to a serious and devout performance of the said Prayers Fasting and Humiliation as they regard the Favour of Almighty God and the Safety and Preservation of the Protestant Religion and expect a Blessed Success to the carrying on of that Great and Glorious Work of this Nations being delivered from Popery and Slavery so seasonably begun and as they would avoid the Wrath and Indignation of God against this Kingdom and procure and continue maniâ—old Blessings to the same Certifying all these who shall contemn or neglect such a Religious and necessary Duty they shall be proceeded against and published as Contemners of his Majesties Authority Neglecters of Religious Services and as persons disaffected to the Protestant Religion as well as to Their Majesties Royal Persons and Government And Ordains these presents to be printed and published by Macers or Messengers at Arms at the Mercat-Cross of Edinburgh and other places above-mentioned that none may pretend Ignorance Per actum Dominorum Secreti Concilii GILB ELIOT Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary Some of the sad Effects of this Canting Proclamation were particularly felt by Mr. Ramsay who preach'd in the Forenoon in the old Church at Edinb a Man of an unblameable Life a judicious and accurate Preacher gave Obedience in all things to the Act of the Meeting of Estates of the Thirteenth of April read the Proclamation prayed in express Terms for King William and Queen Mary the very first day these things were enjoyned to be done on but that availed nothing for the design was to remove all the Episcopal Ministers from the Pulpits in Edinburgh at any rate and upon any pretence how little soever Mr. Ramsay gets a Citation to appear before the Privy Council By their procedure against his Brethren he knew what would be the event of this and therefore it being his turn to preach on that day he was cited to compâ—ar on and many of his Elders and Parishoners being present he delivered some Advices and Exhortations which made the Sermon look somewhat like a valedictory one after Sermon his Elders attended him to the foot of the Stairs of the Council Chamber Mr. Ramsay is called and interrogated if he did read the Proclamation of the 13th of April he answered I did read it Again he is questioned if he prayed for King William and Queen Mary naming them for it was not enough to use such Expressions as were only to be appropriated to William and Mary he said He had prayed for them by Name But says the President you only prayed for them as Declared King and Queen not as those that were really such Mr. Ramsay replied That he had prayed for William and Mary whom the Estates of the Kingdom had Declared King and Queen and since they had no Liturgy and they had given to them no Form of Prayer he thought being he had pray'd for William and Mary no more was to be required and as for the words Declared King and Queen he had taken them from one of their own Proclamations which when denied he desired the Proclamation might be produced which was done and then it appeared he was in the right When he could not be reached in this point then the President the Earl of Crawfurd said But Mr. Ramsay you pray for the late King James My Lord said he I pâ—ay in these words Lord Bless William and Mary whâ—m the Estates of this Land have Declared King and Queen and Bless all the Royal Family Root and Branch especially him who is now under Affliction Sanctiâ—ie it uâ—to him while he is under it and when it seems good to thee deliver him from it This says he is the Form I made to my self for you prescribe none and is it not a sore matter that when nothing is left to King James in Reversiâ—n of Three Kingdoms but the Prayers of poor Men that you should deny him those They then ordered him to remove and consulted by what other way they might reach him for yet they could not find a pretence against him sufficient to deprive him At last they called him in and the President said But Mr. Ramsay you did not
joyned with me in all the parts of my Ministry until the said Dickson and others of that Perswasion had conversed with them and frequently preached among them yea I am credibly informed that this George Dickson on a Saturday night as he came from Edinburg lighted in a Change House and then the People desiring him to preach to morrow he answered He would preach no more until they put away the Curate from among them Sir I doubt not but what I have here written will find credit with you on my single Testimony yet to this the Laird of Smelholm with many others can bear witness I rest wishing the Lords Grace and Mercy ever to attend you Your humble Servant G. B. The Persecution of Mr. William Bullo whom the Rabble hindred from giving Obedience and yet was deprived MR. William Bullo Minister at Stobo in Tweddale was all the Winter over most barbarously used by the Rabble they having many times not only in the day time but even under cloud of night with drawn Swords and Guns in their Hands entered his House broke open the Doors thereof and sâ—arched the same for himself and thereby did so affright his Wife and Children that they took Sickness through fear and he himself for fear was forced to lye out in the Fields in the coldest Winter nights And after he had endured a great many of their Onsets about the beginning of April last as the said Mr. Bullo was coming home from the accompanying the Corps of a Gentleman they lay in ambush for him by the way and riding through a little Village in his own Parochine where there was a Meeting house erected and where was the Dwelling-House of the Preacher of the Meeting-house out of which House there broke out upon him a number of the Rabble among whom was the Preachers Servant-man and with drawn Swords in their Hands offered to stobb him and charged him to stand and he putting the Spurs to his Horse rode for it they firing their Guns after him and at last two of them mounted themselves on Horses and pursued him and chased him farther than his own House until at length the said Mr. Bullo's Horse gave over riding and so they apprehended him and told him they would instantly shoot him and commanded him to his Knees and he desiring for a little time to pray they told him he had lived too long he answered that was to quarrel with God and he wished them to consider what they were saying and doing For said he you are in passion You Damn'd Rogue said they do you take on you to admonish us we 'll shoot you presently through the Head Then said he Since you will do it God have Mercy on my Soul and God forgive you and now said he I have done Then they laid many stroaks on him with the broad side of their dâ—awn Swords and told him They would forbear his Execution that night it being then late of the night and would take him Prisoner to his own House and guard him there until the next day and pronounce Sentence on him in sight of the whole Parish and would do further as they thought fit And accordingly all this was done for to morrow morning they sent through the whole Parish and convened all that would joyn with them against the said Mr. Bullo and entered his House in a most Hostile manner with their Arms and commanded his own Man-servant to tear his Gown and after many Altercations betwixt him and them they discharged him to preach any more upon the peril of his Life He told them that he would receive no orders from them he came in by Authority and would not go out but by it And about a Fortnight or twenty days after this they came upon his Family he being from home and most cruelly threw out at doors his whole plenishing and Furniture of his House and locked up the Doors and upon the Lords day whereupon he should have read the Conventions Proclamation for making Prayers for King William and Queen Mary and upon the day of Thanksgiving they set Guards in the Church-yard lest he should have given Obedience And thus was he violently forced away from his Church and is since deprived by Act of Council for his not Reading and Praying The Names of these honest Gentlemen who offered to attest the Truth of this matter by their Oaths when Mr. Bullo was deprived are so well known to the Council that it would be needless here to insert them The Persecution of Mr. Iames Little MR. Iames Little Minister of the Gospel at Tiâ—dace was warned by six Men whereof two were Cotters and four Young men all Parishoners to desist from the Exercise of his Ministry at the Church of Tindace and Trailflatt annexed to Tindace he enquired of them by what Authority they did that they answered What they had done they would stand to it He enquired at several Parishoners If they had any Coâ—mission from them for the same they answered Not so he continued for two Lords days thereafter doing his Ministerial Duties without Interruption upon the third Lords day he goes to the Kirk of Trailflat where he is obliged to preach once a month and there when he was going to perform his Duty there meets him to the number of fifty Women and upwards with Cudgels in their hands and enters the House where he used to go in and came there and most violently abused his Person without giving any reason why and teared his Cloak from his Shoulders and hauled him out of Doors which being done they compassed him about and beat him most severely with their Cudgels so that some Persons who was come to hear a Sermon cryed out Will you Murder a Man and after they had torn all his Cloaths his Shirt not excepted and inquired how he durst come to preach there this day being warned before to desist he answered That they could not be ignorant of a Proclamation issued out in name of the Prince of Orange which was publickly intimate from the Cross of Drumfries the Wednesday preceding that all their Violencies and Injuries should surcease until the Meeting of the Estates They answered That they could not obey Mans Laws but their King of Heavens Laws He said likewise unto them Why do you put your selves out of that Frame and Temper that is suitable to the Lords day They answered That in doing to me what they pleased they could not offend their King of Heaven After this he desired them to allow him some covering for to defend his Head from the cold after they had cut his Hat in pieces and trod the same with the rest of his Cloaths in the Mire all which they denied After all this they required the Key of the Kirk-door he cried for the Beadle who lived half a Mile distant from the Kirk who was not as yet come upon which they sent two of their own number for it and the Man being out of the way
all the abrupt Information that now in haste can be given but you may have a further account afterwards Mr. Iohn Maubray Minister at Vphall did comply with all that was required of him by the Council yet the Rabble came â—pon him did cast out his Plenishing tore his Gown affâ—ighted his Wife so that she died shortly after Being thus violently thrust from his Wife he came to his Patron Lord Cardrose one of the present Privy-Council and desired that his Lordship would allow him but to shelter himself in some Chamber of his Lordships House of Kirkhill till he provided himself of some other place but my Lord denied his request He then adventured again to lodge in the Manse to preach to his People but the Lord Cardrose commanded him to forbear and when he would not promise to abstain his Lordship did take from the said Mr. Iohn the Keys of the Church-doors so that he has excluded him the Kirk This can be proved by many famous Witnesses as is now attested by W. S. I. M. The Persecution of Mr. Francis Scot. MR. Francis Scot Minister of the Gospel at Tweedmore was ejected by the Rabble and his whole Family turned out of doors his Wife having been delivered of a Child four days before tho he complied in all Points Mr. William Alison Minister of the Gospel at Kilbocho was ejected about the same time by the Rabble to wit the middle of Summer they holding Pistols to his Breast having given all Obedience to the Laws yet was cited by his Parochioners before the Council and was absolved and warranded to return to his Charge after a number of Women in his own Parochie rose up and went to his Manse wherein he had some plenishing standing and threw it out and broke it all in pieces and drove away his Cows that was pasturing in his own Glebe and destroyed all his Corn and now a Meeting-house Preacher possesseth his-Church preaching in it daily albeit he be authorized himself by Authority and after all this no care is taken to repossess him Witness our Hands F. S. W. A. A Letter to the Lord E ne Airth Octob. 14. 1689. May it please your Lordship WE your whole Neighhour Heretors concern'd in the Parish of Airth considering the Vacancy of our Church through the removal of Mr. Paul Gellie our Minister by the rash Depositions of two or three insignificant Persons and the great Insolencies of the Rabble thereupon without Law or Order in abusing and violently possessing the Church conceived our selves obliged to intreat your Lordship to see what may be done for the Redress and Satisfaction of orderly People And seeing we have nothing to object against the Life or Doctrine of our Minister who is well beloved by the whole Body of the Parish whose Loyalty and Painfulness in the Ministry your Lordship knows It is our â—arnest desire that you interpose your endeavour to get him repossess'd again in this Church if possible in doing of which you may be instrumental for promoting the good of this place and not only oblige the whole Body of the Parish but particularly us who are Your Lordships humble Servants Alex. Bruce Ia. Bruce of Powfouls Ionas Bruce of Letham Al. Elphinstone as Tutor of Stone-house Rob. Rolles of Panhouse I. Wright of Kersie I. Forssithe of Polmais Taillertowne A Letter to the Right Honourable the Lord E ne at London Barnton Octob. 17. 1689. My Dear Lord YOUR Lordship knows how Mr. Paul Gellie your Minister has deported himself in his Ministry at Airth and has gained the Affections of all the Parish except three or four of the very worst of them and how he was removed from his Charge upon the Depositions of two flagitious Fellows who had resolved to Damn themselves to get him out of his Ministry If your Lordship can get his Casâ— fairly represented and him reponed to his Charge I hear that the Hail Heretors and the most substantious Tenents will take it as a singular Favour And albeit I have no Interest but as a Tutor to Airth I will esteem it for a singular Kindness My most humble Service to my Lady and I am My Lord Your Lordships most humble and faithful Servant Ro. Mylne A Letter to the Lord E ne in London Edin Nov. 19. 1689. My Lord I Have sent the Testimony of the Heretors of your Lordships Parish with Barnton's in my Favours hoping your Lordship on their Testificat with your own Knowledge may procure an Order of Reinstallment from His Majesty to me especially considering that to your certain knowledge I have given full Obedience to the Government and have in my Custody the Testimonies of an hundred and fifty Heads of Families subscribed by them ready to depone the truth of my Obedience and Innocency of what these two infamous Persons witnessed against me Yea I have a subscribed Testimony of honest Men offering to prove these two Witnesses by whom I was deposed really perjured and before credible famous Witnesses one of them has confessed his Perjury And if His Majesty be informed of the manifest Injury done me by two perjured Persons contrary to the Testimony of the whole Parish I doubt not of an Order of Reinstallment and truly the Falsehood Malice and Cruelty of that Party in your Lordships Parish is so known to the Presbyterian Ministers themselves that scarcely any one will come and preach to them for tho they violently possess the Church which they have greatly abused they had not a Sermon these divers Sabbaths So that our People not only want the preaching of the Gospel but likewise the Ordinances of the Lords Supper and Baptism If I were present I am assured to prevail and if you judge it expedient send me word by a Line and with the help of God I shall come on my own Horse by Land for I am afraid to venture by Sea I would have sent the Testificat of the whole Parish contrary to these two false Depositions against me but I am afraid they may be miscarried and it would be hard for me to recover them again at this juncture of time but I think your Lordships own Testimony will be sufficient with what I have done My Lord I need not use motives to perswade your Lordship to move herein all are confident you both may and will prevail for an Order from His Majesty for my Reinstallment which will be for your Lordships Honour who is Patron and for His Majesties Interest as well as my Advantage I shall add no more but pray for the Blessing of God on your Lordship Lady and the whole Children which shall ever be continued by My Lord Your Lordships most faithful and Obedient Servant Paul Gellie The Fourth Collection of Papers containing Proclamations Acts of Convention and Council A Proclamation against Owning of the late King Iames and Commanding Publick Prayers to be made for King William and Queen Mary THE Estates of this Kingdom of Scotland having proclaimed and declared
Treasure since An Act of Council At Edin Dec. 24. 1689. THE Lords of His Majesties Privy Council considering that by the Act of the Meeting of Estates of the Date the Thirteenth day of April last there is a difference made betwixt the Ministers then in possession and Exercise of their Ministry at their respective Churches and those who were not so And that the Case of the Ministers who were not in the actual Exercise of their Ministerial Function the Thirteenth day of April last lyes yet under the consideration of the Parliament and lest in the mean time they may call and pursue for the stipend alledged due to them or put in execution the Decreets and Sentences already obtained at their instance for the same before the Estates of Parliament can meet and give these Determinations in the Points Therefore the said Lords of Privy Council finding that the Case foresaid depending before the Parliament is not obvious to be cognosced and decided upon by the inferiour Judges but that the same should be left intire to the Decision of the Parliament have thought fit to signifie to all inferior Courts and Ministers of the Law that the matter abovementioned is depending before the Parliament to the effect they may regulate and govern themselves in the judging of all Process to be intented before them upon the said matter or in executing Sentences already pronounced thereupon as they will be answerable Sic subscribitur Crafoord J. P. D. S. Con. Was ever Iustice to speak modestly stretched so as in this Act because the Government in the Proclamation of the Date April 13. had left the Ministers of the West who were forced by the Rabble from their Possessions out of their Protection which was all the difference mode by that Act was it therefore not just to allow them any Tithes or other Debts due to them for several years before and for which they had obtained fairly Decrees and Sentences in Courts of Iudicature surely these Preachers who by the Violence of the Rabble had possessed their places had no legal or just pretence to any part of the Tithes or Stipends for which the others had served With what face then or pretence to common Iustice could this be called a Case depending before the Parliament A Proclamation anent the Ministers At Edinb August 6. 1689. WHereas the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom by their Proclamation dated at Edinburgh the Thirteenth day of April 1689. did Command and Require all the Ministers of the Gospel within the Kingdom of Scotland publickly to pray for King William and Queen Mary as King and Queen of this Realm and to read that Proclamation from their Pulpits upon the several Lords days therein exprest as also the Estates of the Kingdom did prohibit and discharge any Injury to be offered by any Person whatsoever to any Minister of the Gospel either in Churches or Meeting-houses who were then viz. on the Thirteenth of April last in Possession and Exercise of their Ministry either in Churches or Meeting-houses they behaving themselves dutifully under the present Government And it being most just and reasonable that the foresaid Proclamation be fully performed and obeyed as most necessary for the Security of the Peace of the Kingdom and that such Ministers who gave Obedience should be Secure under the Protection of the Law and that the pain of Deprivation be inflicted upon all those Ministers who have Disobeyed the Proclamation Therefore the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council in their Majesties Name and Authority Do strictly Command and Charge that none of the Leidges take on Hand to do any Violence or Injury to any of the Ministers of the Gospel whether they be Preaching in Churches or Meeting-houses and that all such as were in Possession and Exercise of their Ministry upon the Thirteenth day of April last be allowed to continue undisturbed and that such Ministers as have been removed dispossessed or restrained without a legal Sentence in the Exercise of their Ministry since the Thirteenth day of April last shall be allowed to return and Exercise their Ministry without Disturbance And ordains the Sheriffs and their Deputs Stewards Baillies and other Magistrates within their respective Bounds to give their Assistance for making the Premisses effectual As also that such Ministers who have not read the Proclamation and prayed for King William and Queen Mary according to the Tenor thereof may be deprived of their Benefice and restrained to Officiate in their Churches The Lords of His Majesties Privy Council do invite and allow the Parochioners and Hearers of such Ministers as have neglected and slighted the reading of the Proclamation and praying for King William and Queen Mary to Cite such Ministers before the Privy Council and grants Warrand for citing and adducing Witnesses to prove the same that such Ministers as have Disobeyed may by a legal Sentence be deprived of their Benefices and that none of the Leidges at their own hand without a legal Sentence and Warrand presume to meddle in this matter And Ordains these Presents to be Printed and published by Macers of Privy Council and Messengers at the Mercat Cross of Edinburgh and other places needful that none may pretend Ignorance Extracted by me Gilb. Eliot Cls. Sti. Concilii God save King William and Queen Mary In this Proclamation it 's visible that the Ministers who were outed by the Rabble before April 13. as almost all the Ministers in the West and South were are again fairly excluded from the Protection of the Government as if the Cruelty and Barbarities of the Rabble were to be applauded by the Governours and all these who suffered under them to be condemned as Criminals and Traytors to the State And to make short work on it with these Ministers who were yet in the Possession of their Livings the Rabble and all their Enemies without distinction are here invited to be Evidences against them for their immediate Deprivation and the effect was Quod non fecere Barbari secerunt Barbarini This Proclamation was issued out to shorten the Form of Process which that of the Sixth of August obliged the Accusers and Pursuers of Ministers to observe A Proclamation for Citing Ministers who have not Prayed for Their Majesties Edinb August 22. 1689. WHereas by an Act of Council of the Sixth of this Instant in Pursuance of an Act of the Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom of the Thirteenth of April last the Parochioners and Hearers of such Ministers as have neglected and slighted the Reading of the Proclamation therein mentioned and the Praying for King William and Queen Mary are invited and allowed to Cite such Ministers before the Privy Council which Act of Council grants Warrand for Citing and Adducing Witnesses And forasmuch as the Design of the said Act is that such Ministers who have Disobeyed the said Act of the Meeting of the Estates may conform thereto by a Legal Sentence be Deprived Therefore that the said Act
the Possession of the Places and Offices abovementioned We do hereby require them to leave the said Offices and Places and to retire to their several Dwelling-houses where we forbid and discharge all Persons to disquiet disturb or molest them any manner of way and we appoint the next immediate Protestant Officers in the Fortresses where the Governours Deputy-Governours or other Officers are Roman Catholicks to take upon them the Custody of the saids Fortresses and in the same manner that the Protestants concerned in the Collecting and managing of the Revenue and the keeping of the Peace do supply by their diligence the Vacancies that are or may happen to be in places of the like Nature This our Declaration to be of Force and to take effect till the said Meeting of Estates in March next and to be without prejudice to any other Orders we may think fit to give to any Person or Persons for the ends abovementioned And we do farther order this our Declaration to be printed and published at Edinburgh and printed Copies of the same to be given or sent to the Sheriffs and Stewartry Clerks of the several Shires and Stewartries whom we do hereby require to publish the same upon the first Mercat day after the receipt thereof at the Crosses of the Head Burghs of their respective Shires and Stewartries in the due and usual manner Given at St. James's the Sixth day of February in the Year of our Lord 1688 9. W. H. Prince of Orange The Effects of this Declaration were that these Gentlemen who had taken Arms to defend themselves and the Regular Clergy from the Fury of the Rabble disbanded and laid down their Arms as the Declaration required whereupon the Phanatick Mob became much more Insolent and Outragious despising the Declaration and destroying all the Clergy they could reach for which they had the following Act of Thanks An Act approving of the good Services done by the Town of Glasgow Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires in this Conjuncture with a return of the Thanks of the Estates to them AT Edinburgh March 28. 1689. The Meeting of the Estates of this Kingdom taking into their Consideration that by the sending of the standing Forces into England the Estates were destitute of that Guard and Defence which was proper and necessary in this Conjuncture and that several Persons well affected to the Protestant Religion at the Dyet of the Meeting of the said Estates having repaired to this City of Edinburgh from Glasgow the Shire of Argyle and other Western Shires did at the Desire and by Warrand of the Estates put themselves to Arms and since have so continued Watching and Warding under the Command of the Earl of Levin and demeaned themselves Soberly and Honestly and been Active and Instrumental to prevent Tumults and to secure the Peace and Quiet of this Meeting and Place and there being now some Scots Regiments arrived here under the Command of Major General Mâ—cay The Estates do therefore hereby declare That what is past was good acceptable and seasonable Service and do approve the same and hereby gives Order to the said Earl of Levin to Disband them and allows them to return with their Arms to their respective Homes and do return their Thanks to the Persons who have been imployed Extracted out of the Records of the Meeting of Estates by me Ja. Dalrymple Cls. This is the Act that in the Narrative is called An Act for Thanks to the Rabble The Persons to whom it relates being these Zealots who contrary to all the Laws of Religion and Humanity contrary to the Laws of all Nations and particularly to the standing Laws of this Kingdom and contrary to the Prince's own Declaration Feb. 6. 1688 9. convened and continued in Arms till they drove out all the regular Clergy in the West and many in the South and being in number about 8000 or above overawed and threatned those concerned to elect Members for the Convention and at the Meeting of Estates rushed in a Tumultuary and Hâ—stile manner into Edinburgh planted themselves without any publick Order or Commission about and in the Parliament house where at every turn they rail'd at threatned baffled and affronted the Bishops nor were the ancient Nobility and Gâ—ntry who generally adhered to the â—piscâ—pal Cause better treated by them the Terror whereof made many of the most eminent Members never come near the House and made many who came at first soon after desert it all this was considerably before the Earl of Levin was by the Convention appointed to Command them This being Matter of Fact well known to the Estates I leave the World to judge how well these Men deserved this Act of Approbation A Proclamation for a General Fast. At Edinb August 24. 1689. Present in Council E. Crafurd P. M. Douglas E. Southerland E. Leven E. Annandale L. Rosse L. Carmichell Sir Hugh Campbel of Calder Sir Iames Montgomerie of Skelmorly Sir Arch. Murray of Blackbarrony Iames Brody of that Ilk. Sir Iohn Hall L. Provost of Edinb FOrasmuch as the great and long abounding of Sins of all sorts amongst all Ranks of Persons with the continued Impenitency under them and not Reforming therefrom The falling from their first Love and great Faintings and Failings of Ministers and others of all Ranks in the hour of Temptation in their Zeal for God and his Work and that although there be much cause to Bless God for the Comfortable Unity and Harmony amongst the Ministers and Body of Christian Professors in this Church Yet that there are such Sad and Continuing Divisions amongst some is also matter of Lamentation before God The great Ingratitude for his begun Deliverance of this Nation from Popery and Slavery and unsuitable Walking thereunto The Contempt of the Gospel not Mourning for former and present Iniquities nor turning to the Lord by such Reformation and Holiness as so great a Work calls for The many Sad and long continued Tokens of Gods Wrath in the hiding of his Face and more especially in his Restraining the Power and presence of His Spirit with the preached Gospel in the Conversion of Souls and Edifying the Converted And the Lord 's Threatning the Sword of a Cruel and Barbarous Eenemy in the present great Distress of Ireland by the prevailing of an Anti Christian Party there and Threatning the Sword of the same Enemy at Home and the great and imminent Danger of the Reformed Protestant Religion not only from an open Declared Party of Papists Enemies to the same but from many other professed Protestants who Joyn Issue with them in the same Design besides the sad Sufferings and Scatterings of Reformed Churches Abroad Having Seriously and Religiously moved the Presbyterian Ministers Elders and Professors of the Church of Scotland Humbly to Address themselves to the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council for a General Fast and Day of Humiliation to be kept throughout the whole Kingdom The saids Lords Do out of a Pious and Religious
they were allowed to take the open Air in England When the new Observator upon March 26. last published my Lord Crasurd's Letter dated Edinburgh March 16. 1690. he might have observed that in that Letter my Lord fairly owns that the Council did at the same time that they proceeded against Ministers for not praying for King William take probation of Crimes of another nature also against them tho the Cognisance of them did no way belong to the Council these are the very words of the Letter for if this be true the Proceedings of the Council against the Ministers must be acknowledged not to have been fair and legal for the Observator himself who once pretended to an inferior kind of Practice in the Scots Law knows I hope so much as that no Court ought to hear probation of Crimes whereof they have not the Cognizance nay the best of Men may be abused by such Proceedings for if the Court be not competent the Defendants cannot be admitted to object against the Insufficiency of the Probation and so the worst things may be proved against the most innocent People But of all them that have written or spoken against the Account given in those Lettert we owe the most Thanks to one downright true thorough-paced Presbyterian who writes a Pamphlet against it called A Brief and true Account of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland occasioned by the Episcopalians since the year 1660. The Book is indeed worth the reading because in it the Author has fairly pulled off that Mask which others more Cunning but less Honest love to act under I shall not here hazard the turning of the Readers Stomach by repeating any of these his most fulsâ—me Expressions which he liberally strows in every Page of his Book only this I must say That it 's not possible for a Devil to bring more Railing and false Aâ—cusations against the Brethren than this pure Presbyterian does against our Clergy and States-men he has learned it seems of his Friend Matchiavel to calumniate boldly hoping that if he throw a great deal of Dirt some of it may stick but his Mallce is too large to be confin'd to Scotland and therefore he opens foully against the Church of England too for he says That Dr. Oates a modest Man like himself did the Nation more Service than the seven Idolized Stars so many of whom are now turned Dark-lanthorns Neither must the Complying Bishops escape his Fury for of them he says That as they have the Dishonour of being the Mother of that Helâ—ish Monster Possive Obedience they have also the Ignominy of being the Murtherirs of it having new basely cut its Threat as Harlots use sometimes to do with their spurious Breed Then as for the English Clergy in general he says That let their Hyperbolical Pretentions to Zeal for Religion and Loyalty be what it will yet if the King put forth his hand and touch them they will Curse him to his face and rather than part with on inch of Superstition or a Swinish Lust will as the Party have always done lay a Confideracy with Hell and Rome as times past and present do evidence beyond Contradiction from the Reformation to this day In another place he says That their dayly Prayers are that God would pull down the Antichristian Hierarchy also in England and why says he may we not do it as well as the English Prelates and Clergy Plot Drink and plead against the Scotch Presbytery Then he soretells the Downfall of the Church of England Notwithstanding their Sessions as he speaks at the Devil to prevent it and for the fulfilling of this his fatal Prephecy he declares War against them and bids them blame themselves for it if another Invasion from Scotland prove as fatal to them now as it did in Bishop Laud's time and that the Godly Women will with their Folding-stools once mere arm against them as they did in King Charles I. time This is a true Specimen of the Love and Charity that the Scotch Presbyterians have to the Church of England and it 's but a little part of that Fire and Slaughter which our Author breaths out against them Further yet he condemns all the orderly Churches in 〈◊〉 for says he All those who use Set Forms of Prayer are Strangers to the Power of Godliness So that neither the Presbyterians themselves in Holland nor in France no nor in Geneva must escape the Lash of our Scotch Reformers until they be purified according to the Pattern in the Mount the Covenant Standard But that I may not rake any longer in this Dunghill our Author is as far from Truth in the Points of History he relates as his manner of Expression is from the Spirit of Meekness and Charity and his whole Discourse is as inconsistent with that as his beloved Doctrine of Resistance is with the Thirteenth Chapter to the Romans and that they who shall please next to draw their Pens against us who are already sufficiâ—ntly persecuted by their hands may find some Matter as well as Words to fill their Weekly Papers I shall take leave of them in some few plain Queries First Considering the Great Charity which the Scotch Presbyterians have for the Church of England as you have heard and their Intention of visiting them again which the Author has threatned as they did in the year 39. when Plate Jewels Money Houshold-goods Cattle and all Moveables were declared Malignants and they grew witty in their Zeal and told they came for all their Goods And considering that they are more Numerous now than they were then and if they be establish'd by Law will be much more Formidable because all will be forc'd to joyn with them or suffer their utmost Persecution for they have declared Toleration to be Aâ—tichristian And considering that their Solemn League and Covenant obliges them to root out Episcopacy in England and Ireland and never to desist till they have effected it I say considering these things and what they have formerly done upon the same Principles Query whether the Settling Presbytery in Scotland be reconcilable to the Securing Episcopacy in England 2ly Whether even King William can secure himself in the Monarchy against those who formerly refused to Dissolve at the King's Command in the Assembly of Glasgow in the year 38. who preach'd the Subjects into a furious Rebellion and to the delivering up the King his Grandfather to be murdered who by Act of their General Assembly in 48. declared his Negative Voice inconsistent with the Liberty of the Subject and who since himself was made King have risen twice in Arms once to the number of some Thousands who threw out the Episcopal Ministers by their own Authority which our Author says was Deservedly enough Beating Wounding and Tormenting them Another time a more formidable number in a hostile manner made an Address to the Council telling them That they would not lay down their Arms