THE GROWTH OF KNAVERY AND POPERY Under the MASK OF Presbytery LONDON Printed for Henry Brome at the Gun at the West End of St. Paul's Church-Yard 1678. TYRANNY AND POPERY Lording it over the Consciences Liberties and Estates both of King and People To all those that Love either their Religion their Prince their Country or Themselves THis and no less than All This is the Import of the Matter in Question The Government is charg'd by a Faction to be Tyrannically and Popishly Affected and This Pamphlet is to Prove that the very Faction which charges This upon the Government is in all Matters Ecclesiastical and Civil Publique and Particular the great Imposer and Usurper it self But before I enter upon the Subject I do here previously Swear by the Hopes of a Christian that I am not mov'd to this Discourse by any Biass either of Partiality or Faction That I have no Aversion to the Party any further than as I find them the Mortal Enemies of our Government Laws and Freedoms and that in the Prosecution of this Argument I will not Press one Syllable according to the best of my Skill and Knowledge beyond the strict Limits of Truth and Reason My Purpose being only to Vncover the Pit that the Vnwary may not a second time run Headlong into the same Precipice I shall begin with the Platform of the Scottish Presbytery and shew you the Sovereign and Unaccomptable Power which that Judicatory claims to it self My next work will be to observe the Harmony betwixt Simeon and Levi Their Consistorians and Ours in the Frame and Scope of their Discipline In the next place we 'll Compare their Positions and then conclude with a View of their Usurpations Arbitrary Practises and Proceedings and all This extracted from the Vndeniable Memorials and Records of the Times and Actions whereof we are about to Treat and in as few words as may be to speak Home to it and Clear The Platform of the Scottish Presbytery THe Presbyterial Government has Four Iudicatories A Parochial Session A Presbyterial Consistory A Provincial Synode And A General Assembly The Parochial Session is constituted of One Minister or More with a Competent Number of Lay-Elders their Presbyteri non Docentes and Deacons It meets once a Week or oftner if there be Occasion and takes Cognizance of all Parochial Cases concerning External Order and Censure If there be but One Minister in the Parish he is Constant Moderatour If More they take their Turns as they can agree upon 't and they are all of them Equal in Honour and Jurisdiction There passes no Act without the Joynt Consent of the Minister Lay-Elders and Deacons or Plurality of Votes and Note that the Minister has no Casting Voice The Power of Binding or Loosing of Censures Ecclesiastical and of External Order and Worship is Radically and Equally in All So that the Lay-Elders and Deacons have as much the Power of the Keys as the Ministers To support this Jurisdiction they have their Four Sacred Orders which they challenge to be of Divine Right First Their Preaching Elders whom they call Ministers Secondly Doctors or University Professors Thirdly Lay or Ruling-Elders who have as much Authority in the Debate and Decision of Matters of Faith Worship Polity Ecclesiastical Censures as the Preaching-Elders Fourthly Deacons Take notice that their Lay-Elders and Deacons are Annual and Consequently one Year Sacred and Another Profane This Session meddles only with things Parochial as the Ordering of the Parish-Church and Peculiar Service the Censure of Lesser Scandals as Fornication Drunkenness Scolding Sabboth-breaking c. And in Difficult Cases they apply themselves to the Presbytery In their Censures they impose Civil Punishments and Fines they Emprison Offenders at pleasure Cart them through the Town set them in Pillories Shave one Half of their Heads Cut off their Beards Nay they take upon them by their own Authority to Banish whom they please out of the Bounds of the Parish which is a Direct Usurpation of Sovereign Power In Case of a Pecuniary Mulct inflicted or of a Child born in Fornication they will not allow the Infant to be Baptiz'd if either of the Parents have not paid the Fine or secur'd it or satisfi'd the Church The Presbytery is next and it is made up in some places of More in others of Fewer Parishes and the King himself is not Exempt from the Power and Jurisdiction of this Consistory nor in Effect from the Authority of the very Parochial Session living within the Precinct either of the One or of the Other This Iudicatory is Compos'd of all the Parochial Ministers within its Compass and a Lay-Elder for Each Parish so that the Lay-Elders are Equal to the Preaching Elders both in Number and Power and a Botchers Vote goes as far under that Capacity in Divine Matters as the Voice of the most Reverend and Learned of the Clergy only a Lay-Elder cannot properly be a Moderatour tho' in several Cases they have dispens'd with that Scruple This Court takes Cognizance First Of what is Referr'd or Presented to them from every Individual Parish 2. Of all Capital Crimes and Scandals of the Highest Degree 3. Of such Offences as fall under the Censure of Excommunication 4. Of all Appeals from Sessions 5. Of all Differences that cannot be Compos'd or Determin'd in the Parochial Conclave 6. Of the Visitation and Censure of what 's amiss in Every Parish either in Preacher or Other 7. Of the appointing of Readers and School-masters They meet commonly once a Week or a Fortnight at which Meetings all the Ministers in their Turns Exercise as they call it in the expounding and applying of Texts of Scripture In these Exercises they have a sort of People which they call Expectants of such or such a Presbytery who are Licensed to Preach in any Parish-Church within its Bounds These Expectants have usually some smattering in Divinity as Country-School-Masters or the like and they are Authoriz'd to do all Ministerial Acts except Baptizing or Administring the Lord's Supper without Holy Orders Imposition of Hands or any Qualification for the Sacred Function There are more or fewer Presbyteries in a County according to the Number of Parishes but all of them Independent One from Another If the King himself be Cited he must Appear or be Excommunicate for Contempt and submit his Earthly Scepter to their Scepter of Christ as they term it and from thence receive Christ's Laws and Ordinances As no Person is Exempt so neither is any Crime whatsoever that is either Committed or suspected to be Committed within the Limits of their Jurisdiction but they hook it in as scandalous to a Christian Profession A Provincial Synode is an Associate Body of the Commissioners chosen out of all the Individual Presbyteries within the Precinct of the Province they meet twice or thrice a year and Exercise an Over-ruling Power over all the Presbyteries within that Province in such manner as the Presbytery superintends the Parochial
as God has Condemn'd of what Estate Condition or Degree soever It is not Birth-Right only nor Nearness of Bloud that maketh a King Lawfully to Reign over a People professing Christ Jesus but Princes for Iust Causes may be Depos'd Kings Princes and Governours have their Authority of the People and upon Occasion the People may take it away again Thus far Knox Now for Buchanan The People says he have the same Power over the King which He has over any One Man They are Better than the King and of Greater Authority and may bestow the Crown at Pleasure The making of Laws belongs to Them They may Arraign their Prince The Ministers may Excommunicate him and He that by Excommunication is cast into Hell is not worthy to Enjoy any Life upon Earth It were Good says he that Rewards were appointed by the People for such as should Kill Tyrants as there are for those that Kill Wolves or Bears or take their Whelps The Seizing and Emprisoning of King Iames in Aug. 1582. being Adjudg'd Treason by the Three Estates in Decemb. 18. 1583. and some of the Criminals Executed an Assembly of Ministers and Elders at Edinburgh in 1585. did not only Authorize and Avow the Action but also ordain'd all people to be Excommunicated that would not Subscribe to their Judgment And Andrew Melvil being Cited to Answer for Treason deliver'd in a Sermon declin'd the King's Authority Affirming that what was spoken in the Pulpit ought first to be try'd by the Presbytery and that neither King nor Council might in the first Instance meddle therewith although the Speech were Treasonable Upon King Iames his Coming to the Crown of England he order'd the Proroguing of the Assembly at Aberdeen which was to have met in 1604. to a longer day But thirteen or fourteen of them for all this met formally at the day appointed The Lords of Council discharg'd their Meeting Whereupon they Protested That in Conscience and in Duty to Almighty God they were bound to preserve the Churches Right and neither Could nor Would give way to that Power the King had Sacrilegiously Vsurp'd over it Hereupon they were Convented and Appeal'd from the King's Council to the next General Assembly I had almost forgotten the Determination of Wilcock and Knox who Positively gave their Judgments That it was Lawful to Depose the Queen Regent Whereupon she was solemnly Process'd Sentenc'd and Depriv'd The Positions of the Presbyterians under Queen Elizabeth THe Church sayes Cartwright wherein any Magistrate King or Emperour is a Member is Divided into some that are to Govern as Pastors Doctors and Elders and into such as are to Obey as Magistrates of all sorts and the People The Admonitour holds it fit That he and his Companions may be deliver'd by Act of Parliament from the Authority of the Civil Magistrates As Iustices and Others from their Indictings and Finings Every Fault says Cartwright that tendeth either to the Hurt of a Man's Neighbour or to the Hindrance of the Glory of God is to be Examin'd and Dealt in by the Order of the Holy Church Nay the very Suspicion of Avarice Pride Superfluities in Meat or Clothing falls under their Lash All men says Goodman are bound to see the Laws of God kept and to Suppress and Resist Idolatry by Force Nor is it sufficient for Subjects not to Obey the Wicked Commands of Princes but they must Resist them and Deliver the Children of God out of the hands of their Enemies as we would deliver a Sheep that is in danger to be devour'd by a Wolf If the Magistrate shall refuse to put Mass-Mongers and false Preachers to Death the People in seeing it perform'd shew that Zeal of God which was commended in Phineas Subjects do promise Obedidience that the Magistrate might Help them which if he does not they are discharg'd of their Obedience If Magistrates without Fear transgress God's Laws themselves and Command others to do the like they are no more to be taken for Migistrates but to be Examin'd Accus'd Condemn'd and Punish'd as Private Transgressors Evil Princes ought by the Law of God to be Depos'd and Inferiour Magistrates ought chiefly to do it And now hear Gilby to the same Tune Kings Princes and Governours have their Authority of the People and upon Occasion the People may take it away again as men may revoke their Proxyes and Letters of Atturney It is Lawful sayes he to kill wicked Kings and Tyrants the Subjects did kill the Queen's Highness Athalia Jehu kill'd the Queens Majesty Jesabel Elias being no Magistrate kill'd the Queen's Majesty's Chaplains Baal's Priests These Examples are left for our Instruction where Iustice is not Executed the State is most Corrupt If neither the Inferiour Magistrates says he nor the greatest part of the People will do their Offices in Punishing Deposing or Killing of Princes then the Ministers must Excommunicate such a King It would be Endless to follow these Instances as far as they would carry me so that I 'le back now again into Scotland and you will find them much of the same Opinion under Charles I. as they had been under his Royal Father The Positions of the Kirk under the Late King IN their Protestation of September 22. 1638. against the King's Declaration they say First That what Subjects do of their own heads is much better than what they do in Obedience to Authority the One Savouring of Constraint but the Other being Voluntary and Chearful Obedience Secondly That the Parliaments Power does no more reach to the Placing of Officers Originally in the Church than the Church has Power to make States-men in the Common-wealth Thirdly The Parliament can make no Law at all concerning the Church but only Ratifie what the Church Decrees And after it has Ratify'd it yet if the Assembly of the Church shall Prohibit it and Repeal that Decree of the Church all the Subjects are discharg'd from yielding Obedience to the Act of Parliament Fourthly The Assembly has Power to discharge all Subscriptions to the Confession of Faith commanded to be Subscrib'd by his Majesty and as it is Interpreted by Him or his Commissioner Fifthly The Assembly without the King is the Church and the only Iudge Competent fit to Interpret and Explain all Doubts arising upon the Confession of Faith Commanded by his Majesty Sixthly Tho' the Law be Interpreted yet if the Intepretation be dislik'd by Most of the Kingdom the Body of the Kingdom for whose Good the Law was made may crave the lawful Redress of Grievances sustained by that Law Take Notice here that they had already Actually trangress'd the Law without staying for Leave and Justifi'd the Doing of it Seaventhly The Assembly is Independent either from King or Parliament in Matters Ecclesiastical Eighthly That the King is to Receive all the Determinations of an Assembly as a Son of the Church tho' they be not matters of Faith but only of Government and concluded by Acts of Parliament Ninthly It is
Lawful for Subjects to make a Covenant and Combination Without the King and to enter into a Bond of Mutual Defence Against the King and all Persons whatsoever tho' against several Acts of Parliament Tenthly It is Lawful for themselves sitting in an Assembly to Indict a New Assembly without the King's Consent Eleventhly If Subjects be convented before the King and Council for any Misdemeanour they may Appeal from the King and Council to the next General Assembly and Parliament if they think either the Glory of God or the Good of the Church concern'd in the Matter in Question Twelfthly They do not desire the King to Indict a General Assembly as needing his Authority but rather for his Honour and for the Countenance of their Proceedings Alledging that if the Prince shall omit to do his Duty the People from whom he had his Power Originally may Resume it Thirteenthly If the King's Voice shall be deny'd to any thing tho' never so Vnjust and Illegal that shall be carry'd by the Major part of the Assembly his Majesty is bound Jure Divino to enforce Obedience to to those Acts and the Counsellors or Iudges refusing to Execute shall be Excommunicate and depriv'd of their Places and Estates Fourteenthly An Assembly may Abrogate Acts of Parliament and discharge the Subject from Obeying them if they any way reflect upon the Business of the Church Fifteenthly The Protestation of the Subjects against Laws Establish'd either before the Iudges of the People or the People themselves who are born to be Iudg'd doth void all Obedience to those Laws without ever bringing of them to be discuss'd before a Competent Iudge Sixteenthly The Major part of the People may do any thing they say which they Themselves conceive Conducing to the Glory of God and the Good of the Church any Laws to the Contrary notwithstanding These Positions you will find in his Majesties Large Declaration concerning the Tumults in Scotland pag. 407. et Deinceps We shall now see how the Counterpart of this Confederacy behav'd it self in England And shew you the Doctrine and Principles of the Faction in the very Infancy of the Rebellion as appears out of their own Acts. See Husband 's Exact Collections Printed in London 1643. The Positions of the English-Covenanters and First In Case of the King's Authority AFter that the Faction had Extorted from his Late Majesty such Concessions as never any Prince granted before Himself And when they had Defam'd his Government and his Person and Poyson'd his People with Contemptuous and Scandalous Libels Upon March 2. 1641. They began to Vnmask and to discover to the World that their Design was not to Reform but to Govern and upon Pretence of Fearing an Invasion from Abroad took the Power of the Militia into their Own Hands at Home Resolving upon the Question p. 96. That the Kingdom be forthwith put into a Posture of Defence by the Authority of Both Houses This Vote was seconded by Another of March 15. pag. 112. That in Case of Extreme Danger and of his Majesties Refusal to give them the Power of the Militia the Ordinance agreed on by Both Houses for the Militia doth Oblige the People and ought to be Obey'd by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom His Majesty insisting upon the Illegality of This Proceeding Both Houses pass'd this following Vote March 16. That when the Lords and Commons in Parliament which is the Supreme Court of Iudicature in the Kingdom shall Declare what the Law of the Land is to have This not only Question'd and Controverted but Contradicted and a Command that it should not be Obey'd is a High Breach of the Privilege of Parliament pag. 114. Finding themselves Pinch'd upon this Point they fly to a Distinction betwixt the Letter and the Equity of all Laws pag. 150. There is say they in Laws an Equitable and a Literal Sense His Majesty is Entrusted by Law with the Militia but 't is for the Good and Preservation of the Republique against Foreign Invasions or Domestique Rebellions not that the Parliament would by Law Entrust the King with the Malitia against Themselves or the Common-wealth that Entrusts Them to provide for their Weal not for their Woe So that upon Certain Appèarance or Grounded Suspicion that the Letter of the Law shall be emprov'd against the Equity of it the Commander going against its Equity discharges the Commanded from Obedience to the Letter The Pretence of Defending the Government is now Advanc'd to the Reforming of it Apr. 9. 1642. The Lords and Commons do Declare That they intend a Due and Necessary Reformation of the Government and Liturgy of the Church pag. 135. Having already by Violence Encroach'd upon the Militia as against a Foreign Power the First Considerable Use that they make of it is to Employ it against his Majesties Authority and Person Before Hull and Pass'd Two Votes Apr. 28. in Justification of the Action Resolved c. That his Majesties declaring of Sir John Hotham Traytour being a Member of the House of Commons is a High Breach of the Privilege of Parliament And That without Process of Law it is against the Liberty of the Subject and against the Law of the Land Nay they Vote it May 17. To be against the Law of the Land and the Liberty of the Subject his Majesties Commanding of Skippon to attend him at York and The very Removing of the Term to York from Westminster sitting the Parliament they Vote to be Illegal and Order the Lord Keeper notwithstanding his Majesties Command not to Issue out any Writs or Seal any Proclamation for that Adjournment May 20. They Order also the Putting of all the Magazines in England and Wales into the Hands of Persons well Affected to the Parliament pag. 194. They find themselves now in Condition to Threaten the King and the Kingdom with Open War And pass upon the Question these Three following Votes First That it appears That the King Seduc'd by Wicked Counsel intends to make War against the Parliament who in all their Consultations and Actions have propos'd no other End unto themselves but the Care of his Kingdoms and the Performance of all Duty and Loyalty to his Person Secondly That whensoever the King maketh War upon the Parliament it is a Breach of the Trust reposed in Him by his People Contrary to his Oath and tending to the Dissolution of his Government Thirdly That whosoever shall Serve or Assist him in such Wars are Traytors by the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom c. And Persuant to these Votes Iuly 12. they Resolve That an Army shall be forthwith Rais'd for the Safety of the King's Person Defence of Both Houses of Parliament and of Those who have Obey'd their Orders and Commands and preserving of the True Religion the Laws Liberty and Peace of the Kingdom pag. 457. All these Votes and Declarations they cause with all Solemnity to be Printed and Publish'd but at the same time his Majesties Proclamations and
Declarations are said to be Contrary to Law pag. 449. And all Officers are forbidden any way to Publish or to Proclaim the same The King's Commissions of Array are Declar'd July 20. to be against Law the Liberty and Property of the Subject And the Actors in it to be Esteem'd Disturbers of the Peace of the Kingdom pag. 478. And again pag. 576. All such Persons as shall upon any Pretence whatsoever Assist his Majesty in this War with Horse Arms Plate or Monies are declar'd Traytors to his Majesty the Parlialiament and the Kingdom and to be brought to condign Punishment The Poyson of their Artificial Delusions you will find Maliciously enough Defus'd in their Remonstrance of May the 26. 1642. pag. 263. And the Doctrine of That Declaration summ'd up with great Exactness in his Majesties Answer to it contracting the Venome of it into These Six Positions First That they have an Absolute Power of Declaring the Law And that whatsoever ever they declare to be so ought not to be question'd either by King or People so that all the Right and Safety of the Prince and Subject depends upon their Pleasure Secondly That no Presidents can be Limits to Bound their Proceedings which If so The Government of the Turk Himself is not so Arbitrary Thirdly That a Parliament may dispose of any thing wherein the King or Subject hath a Right for the Publique Good speaking all this While of the Remnant of the Two Houses That they without the King are This Parliament and Iudge of This Publique Good and that the King's Consent is not Necessary So that the Life and Liberty of the Subject and all the Good Laws made for their Security may be dispos'd of and Repeal'd by the Major Part of Both Houses at any time present and by any Wayes and Means Procured so to be and his Majesty has no Power to Protect them Fourthly That a Member of either House ought not to be troubled or meddled with for Treason Felony or any Other Crime without the Cause first brought before Them that they may judge of the Fact and their Leave obtained to Proceed Fifthly That the Sovereign Power resides in Both Houses of Parliament The King has no Negative Voice and becomes Subject to their Commands Lastly That the Levying of Forces against the Personal Commands of the King tho' accompany'd with his Presence is not Levying War against the King But to Levy War against his Laws and Authority which they have Power to Declare and Signifie is Levying War against the King And that Treason cannot be Committed against his Person otherwise than as he is Entrusted with the Kingdom and Discharging that Trust and that they have a Power to judge whether he discharges it or no. And to justifie their Usurpations they do maintain pag. 270. That the Kings of This Realm are Oblig'd to pass all such Bills as are Offer'd unto them by Both Houses of Parliament It would be superfluous to tell you of their Proclaiming Fasts and Assuming to themselves other Rights of Sovereignty under the specious Pretence of a Parliament But to shew you that it was All an Imposture If the King will not Agree the Two Houses they say may Act without him If the Two Houses Differ the Sovereignty rests in the House of Commons As in the Case of a Bill they sent up to the Lords for Directing a Protestation which they had Fram'd to be generally taken throughout England This Bill the Lords Rejected Whereupon the Commons pass'd this Vote That That House did conceive that the Protestation made by them is fit to be taken by every Person that is well Affected in Religion and to the Good of the Common-Wealth and therefore doth declare That what Person soever shall not take the Protestation is Vnfit to bear Office in the Church or Common-Wealth And so they order'd the Knights Citizens and Burgesses to send down to the several Places for which they serv'd Copies of that Vote of the House concerning the Protestation and that the Vote should be Printed They began with a Contempt of the Lords they Lay'd them quite Aside at last and in the Conclusion they Themselves were upon their Own Arguments Confounded by the Rabble You see the Dominion these People Challenge over their Master and it cannot be expected that they should give any better Quarter to their Fellow Subjects But it is Their Way of making Kings Glorious and Patronizing the Liberty of the People The Positions of the English-Covenanters as to the Liberty and Propriety of the Subject IN May 1641. they enter'd upon their Design with the Protestation above-mention'd in these Words I A. B. do in the Presence of Almighty God Promise Vow and Protest to Maintain and Defend as far as Lawfully I may with my Life Power and Estate the true Reformed Protestant Religion express'd in the Doctrine of the Church of England against all Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realm contrary to the same Doctrine and according to the Duty of my Allegiance to his Majesties Royal Person Honour and Estate as also the Power and Privileges of Parliament the Lawful Rights and Liberties of the Subjects c. Here was First an Vsurpation in the Imposing of it and Secondly an Abominable Fraud in the Construction of it The Matter of it was so Plausible that it went down without much Enquiring into the Authority of it but upon the Commons declaring that the Doctrine of the Church of England had no Regard to the Maintaining of the Descipline and Government of it And Afterward that the Sovereignty was Virtually in the Two Houses and that by This Protestation they were Oblig'd to serve That Interest Mens Eyes came then to be Open'd and they saw their Errour For they were call'd upon according to their Solemn Vow and Protestation to Subscribe for Money and Plate pag. 340. and to Maintain Horse Horse-men and Arms for the Defence of the King and Both Houses of Parliament In York shire there was a Neutrality Propounded by some Persons of Eminent Condition in the County but the Lords and Commons Declar'd against it pag. 629. as a Contradiction to the Tye of their General Protestation And it went so high that they past a Vote Oct. 15. 42. That such Persons as shall not Contribute to the Charge of the Common-wealth in This Time of Imminent Necessity shall be held fit to be Disarm'd And the same day they Voted the Sequestring of Church-Lands Delinquents Estates and Revenues of the Crown They Order'd Victuals and other Necessaries for the Army to be taken up upon Publique Faith Nov. 29. 42. pag. 763. and where any thing was Refused to Force it And likewise they appointed a Committee of Six Citizens of London or any Four of them for the Assessing all such to the twenti'th Part of their Estates as had not contributed upon the Propositions of raising Money Plate Horse c. in Proportion to their Abilities The said Assessment to be
Levy'd by Distress and Sale and in Case of Refusal the Parties to be Emprison'd pag. 767. With further Authority Feb. 3. 42. p. 777. to Break open any Chests Trunks Boxes Dores with Power to Seize such Chests with Money or Goods for the Satisfaction of the Sums Assess'd And the same Power Amplifi'd they granted to Commissioners for Levying of Money by a Weekly Assessment upon London and Westminster and every County and City in England and Wales the City of London being Rated the Weekly Sum of 10000 l. and Others in Proportion You have here from their own Publique Acts for I cite none of their Pamphlets a Breviate of the Powers they assumed to themselves over King and People And this so Early in the War too that the Faction was not as yet sure in the Saddle For This was all before 1643. You shall now see the Execution of these Arbitrary Principles by the Covenanters of Both Kingdoms in their Turns and you shall Confess that tho' the Rigours of the Kirk may serve as a Foil to any Other Tyranny the English have yet had the Honour to out-strip their Masters According to the Common Method of Innovatours their First Work was by Press and Pulpit to Defame the Government their Next was by Popular Artifice to stir up the Multitude by Tumults to Reform it and Lastly if they found their Party strong enough to Depend upon to Enter into a Confederacy and Set up for themselves This was the Course that Knox Willock and their Followers took in Scotland under the Queen Regent in 1555. and afterward under King Iames VI. And Cartwright with his Complices went the same way to Work also under Queen Elizabeth only the Conspiracy of Arthington Hacket Coppinger Wigginton c. was Discover'd and the Plot Disappointed But the Libels and Tumults in Scotland 1637. which led to that Impious Bond and Covenant in 1638. had better success See his Late Majesties Large Declaration upon That Subject And after their Pattern so had the Practices in England in 1641. when the Parliament was so Over-aw'd by Tumults that the Vote of the Two Houses was no other in Effect than the Sense of the Rabble in the Lobby It was but their Bawling for Justice upon the Noble Earl of Strafford their Crying down of Bishops and Popish Lords and the thing is Done The Riots were so Great that the Lords press'd the Commons at a Conference to Joyn with them in a Declaration for the Suppressing of them But it was Answer'd saying We must not Discourage our Friends This being a time we must make use of All our Friends God forbid says Mr. Pim that the House of Commons should proceed in any way to Dishearten People to obtain their just Desires in such a way Exact Collections pag. 532. The Kirk would have said that they did not know with what Spirit they were Over-Rul'd as they told King Iames in the Case of Gibson and Black for delivering Treason in the Pulpit The next thing that follow'd in Course was a Combination and That shall be the first Point we 'l handle in the Common Practices of the Party which in One Word amounts to no less than the Dissolution of a Legal and the Setting up of a Tyrannical Government The Practices and Usurpations of the Presbyterians upon the Civil Government TO be as Clear now in their Practices as I have been in their Positions you shall have as good Evidence for their Proceedings as you have had already for their Principles And I 'le begin with the Foundation of their Empire their Audacious and Mysterious Covenant Not with the Matter or the Design of it but only to shew you that Covenanting is the Method of the Party The First Covenant of Scotland bears Date Decemb. 3. 1557. at Edinburgh The Second at Perth May 31. 1559. The Third at Sterling Aug. 1. And a Fourth at Leith Apr. 27. 1560. They Enter'd also into Another Covenant at Ayr Sept. 4. 1562. which Knox calls a New Covenant In England 1583. they Subscrib'd their Discipline and Enter'd into a League both by Promise and Writing to do their Parts toward the Establishing of it In Scotland 1638. so soon as ever they had settled their Tables of Advice the First Act of those Tables was their Solemn Covenant And so likewise in England the Commons Impos'd a Protestation and then went on to Covenants and Othes without End Here 's an Vsurpation upon Sovereignty the very first step they set in the Exacting of an Oth without due Authority beside that all Leagues of Subjects among themselves are in the Eye of the Law no better than Seditious Conspiracies Wee 'l come now to the Pretence of these Covenants which is only an Artifice of Inveigling the Silly People into a Confederacy against the Government under the Notion of Promoting the Common Good The End of the First Scottish Covenant above-mention'd at Edinburgh is said to be the Defence of Christs Gospel and his Congregation and of every Member of it against all Opposers to the Death The Second at Perth goes further and Extends to all Persons that shall trouble them upon what Pretence soever In the Third at Sterling they bind themselves from any Correspondence with the Queen either by Word or Writing In their Fourth at Leith they Covenant a Direct Revolt and the reducing of all men by Force that are not of their Opinion In their Last Bond at Ayr they declare against all men as Enemies that shall not submit to their Government And upon the Whole Matter they Found all their subsequent Proceedings upon the Obligation of the First Covenant for the Defence of Christ's Gospel The Pretext of the Scottish Covenant in 1638. was the Defence of the King's Majesty his Person and Authority in the Defence and Preservation of the True Religion Liberties and Laws of the Kingdom As also the Mutual Defence one of another against all sorts of Persons whatsoever And the English Protestation of 1641. looks the very same way viz. for the Maintenance of the Doctrine of the Church of England the Power and Privileges of the Parliament and Liberty of the Subject And what 's the very Title of their Solemn League and Covenant in 1643. but Reformation and Defence of Religion the Honour and Happiness of the King the Peace and Safety of the Three Kingdoms So soon as ever they had by these specious Appearances decoy'd an Inconsiderate Part of the Nation into the Net they Emprov'd the Fraud by Expounding upon all their Bonds and Covenants quite Contrary to the Common Intent and Acceptation of the same And made way thereby to the Destruction of all those Interests which the People thought they had Sworn to Preserve But the Subject was so hamper'd betwixt the Dread of the Othe among those that did not understand the Nullity of the Obligation and the Forfeiture of Life Fortune and Estate if they should not persue it according to the Oraculous
Iudges in Matters of Faith and the Unmannerly Temper of it where a Taylor or a Shooe-maker shall Sit and Vote Cheek by Jowle with his Sovereign Having made a Faithful Report of the Pretended Powers the Avow'd Principles and the Open Practices of these Troublers of our Israel so far as the Discovery may honestly conduce to our Present Purpose we shall now lay open the Mystery of Iniquity in the Secret Contrivances of their Cabal and upon no less Authority than the Faith and Honour of King Charles the Martyr in his Remarques upon the Proceedigs of the Scottish Covenanters The Device of our standing Committees in 1641. with Subordination to the Close Committee was only an Imitation of the Preparatory Tables of Advice in Scotland with Subordination to their General Table And There Effectually was lodged the last Result of Counsel It was Compos'd of Men of Brains Popularity Boldness and such as were most Obstinately Engag'd to the Faction whether Preaching or Ruling-Elders The Acts of Assembly were but the Dictates of the General Table as in England the Two Houses still agreed to the sense of the Close Committee There it was that the Abuses of Government were Inspected Reformations Modell'd Court-Offices dispos'd of all Conspiracies Form'd and Digested And the Preachers Expresly directed what Points to Press and which Nail to drive There can be no better Accompt given of their under-hand dealing than they give of Themselves in their two Private Papers of Instructions Printed in the Late Kings Large Declaration Fol. 282. c. with his Majesties Notes upon them toward the Securing of a General Assembly which was to meet at Glasgow Nov. 21. 1638. The One of them being directed to one Lay-Elder and the Other to some One Minister in every Presbytery for the Packing of their Party In the Former of them you have in terms these following Particulars in Charge That some one Minister and Gentleman in every Presbytery meet oft together to resolve upon the Particular Commissioners to be Chosen and use all diligence with the rest of the Ministers and Gentlemen that such may be Chosen And Because nothing will avail so much for our Purpose where the most part of the Misters are disaffected as that the Gentlemen be present to Vote in Presbyteries it would be presently try'd whether this be put in Execution and if the Minister be slow in urging it the Gentlemen themselves to urge it and put themselves in Possession That they linger not they would be urged again to send their Commissioners to Edinburgh before the First of October by this we shall know our strength the better at our Meeting And the Gentlemen at least the greatest part of them would be warned to be at Edinburgh Septemb. 20. And that only the Gentlemen who are nam'd Commissioners to the Presbytery for chusing their Commissioners for the Assembly with some to assist them that day stay at home and those to come away immediately after the Election That in every Presbytery there be a Particular Care taken of the Informations against the Prelates for Instructing our Complaints The Other Paper of Private Instructions of Aug. 27. 1638. runs as follows THese Private Instructions shall be discovered to none but to Brethren well affected to the Cause Order must be taken that none be Chosen Ruling-Elders but Covenanters and Those well affected to the Business That where the Minister is not well Affected the Ruling-Elders be Chosen by the Commissioners of the Shire and spoken to particularly for that Effect That they be careful no Chapter-men Chappel-men or a Minister Justice of the Peace be chosen although Covenanters except they have publiquely renounc'd or declar'd the Vnlawfulness of their Places That the Ruling-Elders come from every Church in equal Number with the Ministers and if the Minister Oppose to put themselves in Possession notwithstanding any Opposition That the Commissioner of the Shire cause Convene before him the Ruling-Elder of every Church Chosen before the day of the Election and enjoyn them upon their Othe that they give Vote to none but to those who are Nam'd already at the Meeting at Edinburgh That where there is a Nobleman within the Bounds of the Presbytery He be Chosen And where there is none there be Chosen a Baron or one of the Best Quality and he only a Covenanter The King observes Fol. 315. that This Assembly of Glasgow had not so much as the Face of an Ecclesiastical Meeting not a Gown worn by any Member of it unless it was by one or two Ministers that liv'd in the Town The Appearance of it was in a manner wholly Laical Among the Members of it were Seaven Earls Ten Lords Forty Gentlemen One and Fifty Burgesses many of them in Colour'd Cloths and Swords by their Sides all which did give Voyces not only in very high Points of Controversie but also in the Sentences of Excommunication pronounc'd against the Bishops and Others Nay and all things in the Assembly carri'd by the Sway of these Lay-Elders Insomuch that it was a very rare thing to hear a Minister Speak there Now let any man Judg whether this be a Church-Assembly or the Embryo of a Common-Wealth A Conscientious Consultation for the Reforming of Religion or a Seditious Practice for the Embroiling of the State How applicable is that Invective against Popery in the Libel concerning the Growth of it to the Case of Presbytery The Power of it is Absolute says the Author of it and the Decree is Infallible It can change the very Nature of things making what is Iust to be Vnjust and what is Vice to be Virtue All Laws are in the Cabinet of its Breast and it can dispose of Kingdoms and Empires as it pleases It makes it a Mortal Sin even to doubt of any part of its Religion and demands under pain of Damnation the Subjection of all Christians to its Authority That Word of Reformation misappli'd has serv'd it to justifie all the Executions Assassinations Wars Massacres and Devastations whereby the Discipline hath been Propagated It is almost Vnconceivable how Princes can yet suffer a Power so Pernicious and Doctrine so Destructive to all Government Their strict Othes and Vows of Obedience to the Presbytery Evacuate the Fealty due to the Sovereign What difference now more than in the Name betwixt the Papal Tyranny as he has set it forth and the Presbyterial as it appears from their own Words and Deeds What Power can be more Absolute Or what Decrees more Infallible than That of the Presbytery Which challenges Obedience to all its Dictates both from Prince and People under pain of Life Liberty Dominion and Estate It Over-rules Laws sets up Othes of Treason against Othes of Allegiance and covers the Crime of Rebellion with the Title of Virtue It takes upon it self the Office of Christ Vicar Deposes Kings and under the Masque of Religion dissolves the Order and Authority of all Governments The