The grievances given in by the Ministers before the Parliament holden in June 1633. Propositions concerning kneeling before the bread in the Sacrament Master WILLIAM COUPERS Letter to the Bishop of Dumblane The Bishops instruction to Master Gawin Hammiltoun Bishop of Galloway Mr. George Gladstones letter to the King Master William Struthers letter to the Earle of Airth Printed Anno 1635. The grievances given in by the Ministers before the last Parliament in Iune 1633. THE Ministers standing for the preservation of the puritie of religion in Doctrine worship and governement assayed sundrie meanes to have his MAIESTIE rightlie informed of the estate of our Kirk but the successe was not answerable to their expectation Yet having the opportunitie of his Majest coming to his native countrie of Scotland to be crowned and hold his first Parliament they advised upon some grievances to be presented to his Maiestie and Estates It was ordained by act of Parliament 1594. that foure of everie estate should conveene twentie dayes before the beginning of the Parliament to consider all articles and petitions which were to be given in that such things onlie might be put in forme and presented to the Lords of the articles in time of Parliament as were reasonable and necessarie and that such as were impertinent and frivolous might be rejected But it was not determined who should make choice of the persons Yet this was not observed before the last Parliament But upon the 16 of May 1633. intimation was made by Proclamation that all such as purposed to give in any articles or petitions deliver the same to the Clerk Register betwixt and the first day of Iune to be presented by him to such of the estates and counsell as should be appointed to hear and consider them The ministers fearing not to be heard otherwise appointed one of their distressed brethren Master Thomas Hogge to present their grievances to him which he presented and delivered and tooke instruments thereupon in the hands of a Notair Grievances petitions concerning the disordered estate of the reformed Kirk within this Realme of Scotland presented upon the 29 day of May 1633. by me Mr. Thomas Hogge Minister of the Evangell in mine owne name and in name of others of the ministrie likewise grieved to Sir John Hay Clerk of Register to be presented by him to such as ought according to the order appointed consider them that thereafter they may be presented to his Maiestie and Estates which are to be assembled at the next insuing Parliament THE opportunitie of this solemne meeting of your gratious Majestie and the honourable Estates conveened in this high court of Parliament and the conscience of our dutie to God and the reformed Kirk within this Realme of Scotland where we serve by our ministrie constraines us to present in all humilitie to your Highnes and Estates presentlie assembled those our just grievances and reasonable petitions following 1 Albeit vote in Parliament was not absolutlie granted to ministers provided to prelacies but onlie upon such conditions as his Highnes of happie memorie and the generall assemblies of the Kirk should agree upon which is evident by the remit and provision expressed in the act of Parliament holden at Edinburgh in December 1597. And albeit the manner of their election and admission to the office of Commissionarie and the particular conditions and cautions to be observed by Ministers vote in Parliament in name of the Kirk after long disputation were agreed upon by his Maiestie present in person and the generall assemblie and were appointâ—d by them to be insert in the bodie of the act of Parliament which was to be made concerning that purpose Some Ministers notwithstanding have beene and are admitted to vote in parliament in name of the Kirk as absolutlie as if the act of Parliament did containe no such reference and as if his Majestie with the generall assemblie had not agreed upon the manner of their election and admission to that office or upon any limitations wherby the Kirk hath sustained great hurt prejudice in her liberties and priviledges and speciallie by their frequent transgressing the first of the conditions although grounded upon the verie law of nature and nations That nothing be proponed by them in parliament counsell or convention in name of the Kirck without express warrant direction from the Kirck under the paine of deposition from their office Neither shall they keep silence nor consent in any of the said conventions to any thing that may be preiudiciall to the libertie weal of the Kirck under the said paine And the second That they shall be bound at every generall assemblie to give accountâ—ment the discharging of their commission since the assemblie preceeding and shall submit themselfes to their censure and stand to their determination whatsoever without appellation and shall seek and obtaine ratification of their doings at the said assemblie under the paine of infamie and excommunication Therefore our humble supplication is that the execution of the acts of Parliament of matters belonging to the Kirk to which they have voted in name of the Kirk without any authoritie or allowance from the generall assemblies of the Kirk be suspended till the Kirk be heard and that in time coming ministers have no otherwise vote in parliament but according to the provision of the act of parliament and the order of their entrie to the office of that commissionarie and limitation foresaid agreed upon as said is 2 Seing ratifications of acts and constitutions of the Kirk can not be construed to be a benefite or favour to the Kirk unlesse the ratifications passe according to the meaning of the Kirk and the tenor of the said acts and constitutions without omission addition or alteration of clauses articles or words of importance and that in the ratification of the act of the assemblie holden at Glasgow anno 1610. which past in Parliament holden 1612. under the name of explanation sundrie clauses and articles were omitted as the subjection of Bishops in all things concerning their life conversation office and benefice to the censure of the generall assemblie the censure of Bishops incase the stay the censure of excommunication the continuing of the exercise of doctrine weeklie the necessitie of the testificat and assistance of the ministrie of the bounds for the admission of ministers and other clauses and articles are added and insert as the different degrees of Archbishops and Bishops the power of giving collation of benefices granted to Bishops the disponing of benefices falling in their hands jure devoluto the appointing of Moderators in diocesan Synods incase of their absence and some words of the oath are changed By all which omissions additions and alterations the Kirk hath sustained and doth sustaine great hurt in her Iurisdiction and discipline Our humble desire therfore is that the Kirk may be liberat from the prejudice of those omissions additions and alterations of the act foresaid 3 Notwithstanding the generall
a point of the royall prerogative Small hope had we of any better event considering the dependance either of Noblemen upon the Kings favour for the recoverie of their brocken estates or of some other men for preferment or the fear of others to lose it all knowing verie well the Kings bent and inclination For the better clearing of the equitie of our grievances I will set downe these few observations Great opposition was made by manie worthie men of the ministrie to Ministers vote in Parliament convention or counsell and not without reason When it was carried by pluralitie of procured voces in a generall assemblie holden at Dundie anno 1597. against which and the two former assemblies M. Iohn Davidson protested the nixt care of the sincerer sort was to have the Commissioner voter in Parliament tyed to a certaine forme of admission and to some cautions that he degener not into a Roman or Anglican Bishop He was to be recommended to his Majestie by the generall assemblie and to be admitted by the Synod as it then stood in integritie The first two cautions ye have heard in the grievances By the third the commissioner voter in Parliament was bound not to prejudge the provision of other Kirks planted or to be planted By the fourth he was bound not to delapidar or dispone any part of his benefice without the advice and consent of his Majestie and the generall assemblie and to interdite himselfe to that effect By the fifth He was bound to attend faithfully upon his own particular congregation where he shall be minister in all the points of a pastor and hereanent to be subject to the triall and censure of his own presbyterie and provinciall assembly as any other minister that beareth not commission By the sixt caution In the administration of discipline collation of benefices visitation and all other points of ecclesiasticall government he shall neither usurpe nor acclaime to himselfe any power or jurisdiction farther then any of the rest of his brethren under the paine of deprivation By the seventh That in presbyteries provinciall and generall assemblies he shal behave himself in all things and be subject to their censure as any of the brethren of the presbyterie By the eight At his admission to the office of commissionarie thâ—se and all other points necessarie he shall swear and subscrive to fulfill under the penalties foresaid otherwise not to be admitted By the ninth In case he be deposed by the generall assembly synod or presbyterie from his office of the ministrie he shall lose his vote in Parliament ipso facto and his benefice shall vaike Such as plotted the course of Episcopacie and aspired to prelacies were constrained for the present to condescend to these cautions but were not minded to stand to one jot of them longer then they saw occasions to breake loose Because they were made countable by these cautions to the generall assemblies they procured first a prorogation of the diets of the assemblies by the Kings authoritie and at last the bereaving of the Kirk of all libertie to indict any assemblies that so they might bee freed from making any count at all After they had gathered strength and power to overrule assemblies of their owne devising and after that some of the Ministrie were banished others confined a third sort drawen up to court they procured a convention at Linlithgow anno 1606. of Noblemen and Ministers nominat by them and recommended by the King to the presbyteries to be sent to that meeting The name of a generall assemblie was concealed in the Kings missives But soone after presbyteries were charged with letters of horning to accept the constant moderators chosen by that meeting such as were styled vulgarly Bishops in respect of their benefices to be moderators of the presbyteries where they made residence Synods likewise were urged to accept these Bishops for constant moderators howbeit no such thing was concluded at that meeting but their acte falsified This moderation did not satisfie their ambitious humour nor was it well accepted by presbyteries or the Synodes In the yeare 1610. they were armed with the power of the high commission of which they were not capable and without consent of the Estates contrairy to an act of Parliament Anno 1584. to silence deprive fine and incarcerat Ministers to command them to excommunicat such as in their judgement deserved that censure and to fine and imprison other whatsoever subjects After that they become thus great and terrible and now able to extort any thing from servile ministers they procured an assemblie to be holden at Glasgow soone after like that other at Linlithgow but that there was more gold delt among mercenarie ministers at this assemblie Soone after three of their number went to court to be consecrat Bishops returned consecrated the rest of their fellowes no such thing being concluded at that meeting as the office of a Diocesan Bishop Anglican or Roman that is to be the proper Pastor of all the congregations within the Diocie the power of ordination residing in him and of jurisdiction flowing from him The presbyteries and Synods were onlie tyed to these who were called Bishops in respect of their benefices in the points and in the manner expressed upon trust that they should be lyable to the censure of ordinarie and set generall assemblies But they were not content with sundrie articles of that act howbeit the assemblie was overruled by themselfes and they consented to the end that the Ministers there conveened might be induted to yeeld so farre as they did Therefore when the act was ratified anno 1612. they consented in Parliament to additions alterations and omissions of sundrie clauses as no doubt they had devised themselfes before In the yeare 1617. they consented in Parliament to the election of Bishops by Deans and Chapters which was inhibited by the acts of the assemblie holden 1578. and condemned in the second booke of policie as popish It was likewise farre different from the forme of election and admission agreed upon with their owne consents in the generall assemblies What was proponed in Parliament for their advancement was granted by the Estates and consented to be themselfes as no doubt they had devised So they were their owne carvers In end they brought in popish ceremonies to vex the Ministers and Professors and to give them some other subject to worke upon then to medle with themselfes and their usurped authoritie Because they are conscious to themselfes of the nullitie of their assemblies and fear to want the concurrence of Synods and presbyteries they draw Ministers Professors before their court of high commission But if this court were not fortified and assisted by the Lords of secret counsell by whom it was first authorised their power in the high commission would be litle regarded Our bondage then resolves upon the counsell Whatsoever be the usurpation of the Prelats the Ministrie and Professors are not to be
of our knees and that whole materiall part of adoration be directed toward the elements in the act of receaving in so farre that although the elements were nothing els to the minde but onlie signes to bring us to the right remembrance of the thing signified it cannot be eshewed but they must be the object of the outward adoration of the bodie which is directed toward them and therefore adoration before the bread must needs be the adoration of the bread even as the adoratien before the image the adoration of the image while the image to his minde that adoreth is nothing else but a signe bringing the paterne to his remembrance 5. Since there be two kinds of divine worship one immediat as for exemple Prayer Thanksgiving the religious hearing of the voice of God speaking to us immediatlie The other mediat as the ordinarie hearing of the word and receaving of the sacrament It is both lawfull and suitable to use the gesture of adoration in Prayer in thanksgiving and when we hear the immediat voice of God because no visible midle commeth in betwixt God and us that can be the object of our adoration But in the ordinarie hearing of the word at the mouth of the Preacher and in the act of receaving the Sacrament it is neither suitable nor lawful to adore for that were to adore in a mediat worship or to adore mediatlie which both by force of truth and confession of both sides must be Idolatrie 6. It is therefore unlawfull to adore before the bread or to kneel in the verie act of receaving the Sacrament not onely by reason of the danger of bread worship wherein the bread is adored in stead of Christ by the ignorant multitude neither is it onely unlawfull because it is idolatrie to adore before the bread for reverence and due regard of the Sacrament which can not be avoided by them who adore according to the meaning of the article of perth assemblie But it is also unlawfull because adoration before the bread even in the very nature of the action it self is idolatrie neither is it possible for any man to make his adoration before the bread not to be Idolatrie except he will take away the element that is the Sacrament it self from the Sacrament which is impossible 7. And therefore they are to be commended who farre from all idolatrie and from all perill and appearance of idolatrie doe sit or use an ordinarie table gesture in the supper of the Lord Since neither the Euangelifls nor the Apostle Paul have written so much as one word which may give the least suspition or ground of conjecture that Christ and his Apostles did change their ordinarie and common forme of sitting at table Since it is certaine from the whole frame of the institution that the supper of the Lord was an holy feast or banquet and since by so doing the whole institution of Christ which is very many wayes defaced by kneeling is keeped safe sound It is not farre from blasphemie sayeth Paraeus to say that the Kirk hath with greater wisdome made any change in the Eucharist for what were that but to say that the Kirk is wiser then Christ himselfe as if he had not knowne well enough what was able to procure greatest reverence to the Sacrament or what should carrie with it the least perill which is a Blasphemie worthie of the followers of Antichrist Master William Cowper minister at Perth his letter written before he was Bishop of Galloway to Mr. George Grahame Bishop of Dumblane Anno 1606. BRother I have receaved your commendations from B. which were needles if you had keeped your wonted heart As for me I never hated you your course wherein ye are entered I never loved Although the fruit ye enjoy be sweet yet the end shall prove it never grew on the tree of life Doing in a worke of conscience with doubting turneth light in darknes whereupon followeth induration Whereof it followeth that manie in our Kirk without feeling are coursers against their brethren that have done more good in the Kirk for edification of others then ever themselfes did having neither eyes to see nor hearts to feel how dangerous their estate is who can not rise but with the falling of manie who in God have entered this ministrie closing the fountaine that God hath opened One of your owne told me long ere the last Ministers went to England that they were written for to reason but the end proved prison and no appearance of returning to some of them These are the first fruits of your preferment Here ye stand and therefore I can not stand with you except it be to witnesse to God in mine heart against you that ye have gone wrong Ye hope in this course to doe good but it is hard for you to worke miracles At least ye will hold of evill But how shall ye draw in a yoke with them that are drawing on evill daylie Ye will not goe beyond the caveats of the generall assemblie But the answers given to the commissioners of the Kirk at the last Parliament by the Chancellar we enter not Bishops according to an act of the assemblie but according to that which they were an hundreth yeares since detexit fraudem I heard it given and so did the chiefe of themselfes A. B. C. ye skarre at them whom ye were blyth to see ye like not the light ye loved ye count these preachings unpleasant wherein ye were wont to rejoyce These may tell yow ye have fallen Consider your self where ye was where ye are now quantulum illud sit propter quod nos reliquisti Thus loving yourself and not your way I end Master Gawin Hammilton Bishop of Galloway was sent up to Court by the rest of the Bishops after the convention of the Estates which was holden about the end of Ianuarie 1609. I have here set down the instructions or memorials recommended to him by the rest of the Bishops written by M. Iohn Spotsewood then pretendit Bishop of Glasgow and subscrived by him in name of the rest Memorials to be proponed to his most excellent Majestie 1. YOu shall relate the proceedings of the late convention and what affection some that were present keithed therein that his Majestie may be for seene with mens disposition for the better choyce of those to whom the affaires shall be concredited 2. You shall remember the care we have had of reclaiming the Marques of Huntlie and the Earle of Arrall from their errours and the small profite we have seene thereof and insist for his Majesties favour to the petition of our Letter 3. Anent the Ministers that are confined your L. shall excuse the requeest made by us in some of their favours shewing how it proceeded further declare that of late they have taken course to give in supplications to the counsell for their enlarging to a certaine time for doing their particular businesse at session otherwayes in the country
that some of theÌ„ have purchased licence by the votes of the counsell albeit we opponed Therefore beseek his Majest to remember the counsell that the confining of these Ministers was for faults done by them to his H. self that they should be acknowledged and confâ—ssed to his Majestie and his H. pleasure understood therein before the grant of any favour otherwise they shall undoe all that hath beene hitherto followed for the peace of the Kirk 4. Touching the erections it is our humble desire to his Majestie that the Noblemen in whose favours the same have beene past may take order for the provision of their Kirks according to the conditions made in Parliament or then discharge their erections which seemes best to be done by an act of this ensuing session of Parliament for which his Majesties warrant would be had And some such like course would be taken for the prelacies erected which have past also the constant plat that the presentation of Ministers to the modified stipends at the vacantie of the Church should be in his Majesties hand whereunto though his Majesties expresse commandement was given of before no heed was taken by such as had the charge of affaires 5. Since this matter of the commissariats importeth so much to the reformation of our Church governement as this being restored in a litle time the rest may be supplied which will be wanting it shall be good to remember it by a serious letter to my Lord of Dumbar that we may know in due time what is to be expected And since our greatest hinderance is found to be in the session of whom the most part are ever in heart opposite unto us and forbeare not to keith it when they have occasion you shall humblie intreat his Majestie to remember our sute for the kirkmens place according to the first institution and that it may take at this time some beginning since the place vacant was even from the beginning in the hands of the spirituall side with some one kirkman or other till now which might it be obtained as were most easie by his Majesties direction and commandement there should be seene a suddaine change of many humours in that estate and the commonwealth would find the profite thereof 6. Anent our conference with the ministrie your L. will declare the time that is appointed and reasons of the continuation of the same 7. Because in the time of Parliament cheeflie it should be expedient to have the Bishops to teach in the pulpits of Edinburgh his Majestie would be pleased to commend this to my Lord of Dumbar by a particular letter and to require also the Ministers of Edinburgh to desire their help at that time if it were for no other end but to testifie their unitie and consent of minds to the Estates 8. Because the Kirk of Leith lyeth destitute in a sort through the Bishop of Rosse his age and the imprisonement of Mr. Iohn Murrey and that the said M. Iohn is no wayes minded as appeareth to give his Majestie satisfaction neither were it meet in respect of his carriage that he should returne to that ministrie and to insist in his deprivation with the Commissioners might perhaps breed us a new difficultie if his Majestie shall be pleased we doe hold it most convenient for the errand that the said M. Iohn be conveened before the counsell by his Majesties command and by them charged to waid in the towne of Newabbey and some miles about having libertie to teach that people among whom he shall find some other subject to worke upon then the state of Bishops And for the provision of Leith that his Majestie would be pleased to command the presbyterie of Edinburgh in regarde of the Bishop of Rosse his age and the said M. Iohns transportation by his H. appointment to have care that the said Kirk of Leith be planted with all convenient diligence by M. David Lindsey sometimes Minister at Sant Andrewis for whom both the people is earnest and we may have sufficient assurance to his Majesties service And incase the said presbyterie prove wilfull that another letter to the same effect may be sent to the Commissioners of the generall assemblie who may take order to see that matter ended if such shall be his Majesties pleasure and this would be done with all diligence convenient We cannot but remember also the misorder keeped in the countrie that once was happily repressed wearing of gunnes and pistols and humblie beseech his Maj. that some new course may be established for searching of such persons and delating of them to the counsell that they may be punished and the Thesaurer may have commandement to make choise in everie countrie of certaine that shall be thought fittest to search who shall be knowne onelie to his L. self and satisfie them for their paines to the end this insolence may be restrained Particularlie it would be forbidden in the granting of commissions that this libertie be not permitted for this is one of the causes of their so open dealing as said is These particulars your L. would have care to propone to his Majest at some fit time and see the answers thereof dispatched accordingly Glasgow by the warrant and at the desire of the rest of my Lords the Bishops Master George Glaidstones sent this letter following to the King in August 1612. whereby the reader may perceave what were their plots and preparations before the Parliament following in October where the act of Glasgow was ratified or rather altered Most gratious Soveraigne AS it hath pleased your Maj. to direct mee and my Lord your Majesties Secretarie for advising anent our affairs to be handled in this approaching parliament so happilie did I find him and my Lord of Glasgow both in this towne and conveened them both immediatlie after mine arriving and with good advisement we have made choise of these things which are most necessarie and have omitted these articles which may seeme to carie envie or suspition or which your Majestie by your royall authoritie might not performe by your self But we all hold fast this conclusion that it is most necessarie and convenient both for your Majesties service and weill of the Church that the Day viz. the 12. of October shall hold preciselie to the which the parliament was proclaimed upon the 24. of this instant I will assure your Majest that the verie evill will which is caried to my Lord Chancelor by the nobilitie and people is like to make us great store of friendship for they know him to be our professed enemie and he dissembled it not I thank God that it pleased your M. to make choise of my Lord Secretary to be our Formalist and adviser of our acts For we finde him wise fast secret We shall not be idle in the mean time to prepare such as have vote to incline the right way All men do follow us and hunt for our favour upon report of your Majesties good acceptance of