the cause why he did write it next Analyzed that Chapter shewing the precedents and consequents thereof lastly exactly and divinely unfolded the sum of that place arguing and demonstrating that whatsoever Ben Sirach had said there of Elias Elias had in his own person while he lived performed and accomplished So that the Susurrus at the first mention was not so great as the astonishment was now at the Kings sodain sound and admirable interpretation concluding that the opposers did ill to impose upon a Man that was dead a contrary sence and smyling told the Lords what trow yee makes these men so angry with Ecclesiasticus without doubt they take him for a Bishop 2. The next objection was that old Crambe â—is posita Jesus said to his Disciples when by the Original he spake to the Pharises but bearing a double sence Disciples was to be left out or in a different letter 3. The third Objection against Subscription were Interrogatories in Baptism propounded to Infants that out of Austin Baptizare was credere The King said Ego non intelligo Bishop Winton aiming at his meaning shewed the use thereof out of Saint Austin and the reason Qui peccavit in altero credat in altero It was seconded by the King That the Question should be propounded to the party whom it principally concerned as saith he by example of my self to whom Interrogatories were propounded when he was crowned in his infancy in Scotland Then Mr. Knewstubs fell out with the Cross in Baptism first as the offence of weak Brethren Rom. 14. 1 Cor. 8. the consciences of the weak not to be offended It was answered Distingue tempora concordabunt Scripturae then a Church not settled ours long flourishing asking them How long they meant to be weak Whether five and forty years were not sufficient Then who they were For it is not now required Subscription of Laicks and Idiots but Preachers and Ministers that it was rather doubted some of them were not to be fed with milk being strong enough if not head-strong and thought themselves able to teach all the Bishops Their Objections were whether the Church had power to institute an external significant sign Answered It was used in Baptism onely as a Ceremony and as by their own example who make Imposition of hands in their Ordination of Pastors to be a sign significant all our actions in Prayer are ceremonies significant the Iews to their Moses Pasover have added signs and words Take and eat these in remembrance c. Drink this in remembrance c. Upon which addition and tradition our Saviour at his last Supper celebration used the same as approving that fact of theirs and generally that a Church may instiâ—ute a sign significant Doctor Reynolds confessed the use of the Cross ever since the Apostles but whether in Baptism Quaere It was used in Baptism in the time of Constantine who was no Papist Mr. Knewstubs said Though the Church had power to add significant signs yet not to add where Christ had ordained but one as not to add a private Seal to the great Seal of England It was answered that no sign or thing was added to the Sacrament which was fully and perfectly finished before any mention of the Cross is made Then it was opposed how far such an Ordinance of the Church was binding without impeaching Christian liberty The King told him He would not dispute that point but argue as Kings speak in Parliament Le Roy s' avisera adding that it smelt rank of Anabaptism saying A beardless Boy John Black in a conference I had with the Ministers in Scotland vouchsafed to say He would conform to my Ordinances for Doctrine but for Ceremonies they were left in Christian libertie to every man as he was more or less illuminated of Gods Spirit even till they grow mad with their own light but I will have one Doctrine one Discipline one Religion in substance and ceremony They urged the stamping the Brazen Serpent to pouder by Ezekias because the people abused it to idolatry and so it was abused in time of Popery Therefore said the King It shall continue because you say it was abused in Popery to superstition it implies it was well used before Popery and so now Here the King remembered that he had lived long with such men as these but never of them they do so peremptorily disallow of all things which had been any way used in Popery The Papists object us with Novelties which truly I cannot better answer than to tell them their abuses are new but the good things which they abused we retain and forsake the novel corruption for by the same Argument we may renounce the Trinity and all that is holy because abused in Popery What resemblance is there between the Brazen Serpent a visible thing and the sign of a Cross made in the air The Papists never ascribed any power or spiritual grace to the Cross in Baptism the material Crosses are by us demolished as you desire which the Papists used to idolatry The third general Head Church-garment Then they objected the Surplice to be a Garment used by the Priests of Isis. The King smiled Is it now borrowed from the Heathen which till now ye accounted a Rag of Popery We are not in danger of Paganism though of Papism Antiquity always used different habits in divine Service principally white Linnen and he always desired not further to separate from the Church of Rome in Doctrine or Ceremony than she had departed from her self and her Head Christ Jesus The fourth general Head Common Prayer Doctor Reynolds would not have these words With my body I thee worship They told me it was divine worship The King said It was an usual English word of Reverence not to idolatry But Doctor if you have a good Wife do her to worship and more too That nothing was more meant thereby than as Saint Paul 1 Cor. 7. 4. that to worship the Wife is for the Man to appropriate his body to her alone and as 1 Pet. 3. 7. To give honour to the Wife as to the weaker vessel So to please them was added honour to the word worship The Ring they did not except As for Churching of Women called Purification the King would not alter that decent manner in matter or words saying Women of themselves are loth enough to come to Church therefore all good ways to invite them Fourth general Head Doctor Reynolds excepted against committing Ecclesiastical Censures to Lay Chancellours seeing their Authority in Hen. 8. time was abrogated in Queen Mary's and not revived and abridged by Bishops themselves Anno 1571. ordering that Lay-Chancellours should not excommunicate in matters of correction and Anno 1584 1589. not in matters of instance The King told them He had conferred therein and would consider D. Reynolds desired to have Provincial Constitutions as the Clergy to meet
with the then congregation And afterwards in the ordering of distribution for Ministers amongst the Burgs he was elected for Aberdeen the place then of the ablest Papists the rather therefore to reclame them from their errors by practice of Piety profound preaching wherein he profited to again of many to the faith in 14 years labour and dyed 60 years of age And now was Andrew Melvil a fiery zelot labouring for the absolute Presbyterial discipline of Geneva iâ—sinuating with Iohn Dury minister of Edenburugh in their Assembly to question the lawfulness of the Episcopall function and the Authority of Chapiters in their election but himself cunningly pretended ignorance but since the question was so started he commended the speakers zeal seconding the purpose with a tedious discourse of the flourishing estate of Geneva Church and the opinion of wise Mr. Calvin and reverend Mr. Beza and came to affirm That None ought to be Officers in the Church whose Titles were not found in the 〈◊〉 And though that of Bishops were in Scripture yet not to be taken in the same sense that commonly was conceived Christ allowing no Superiority amongst Ministers Himself only Lord of his Church and all the Servants in one degree having like power Concluding Then the Corruptions of Bishops were so great that unless removed Religion could not be long preserved Hereupon divers are selected to confer three to three and concluded their opinions to the Assembly 1. That the Name Bishop was common to able Ministers of a flock his chief function to preach to administer Sacraments and exercise Ecclesiastical Discipline with consent of his Elders 2. That some one Minister might oversee and visit such reasonable bounds besides his own flock 3. And he to appoint Preachers with advice of the Provincial Ministers and the consent of the flock 4. And to suspend Ministers from their Office with consent of the Ministers of the bounds It is strange that the Arch-bishop of Glasgow and six other Bishops with Super-intendents and all interessed were not called to the conference though present in the Assembly Nor doth it appear that they spake at all therein so humble to hold their tongues in a case of their own or rather referring it to the Regents Wisdom whose opinion had been ever to uphold Episcopacy The next Assembly altered the question and formed it Whether Bishops as they were then in Scotland had their function warranted by the Word of God But the Major part approved of those in the last Meeting The Regent finding them so to differ sent them word to settle upon somewhat and to abide therein Of which they take advantage and with much ado present a form of Policy to the Regent Acknowledging in their Preface That they did not accompt it compleat but to add or diminish as God shall reveal vnto them But some Troubles in State prevent their further progress The Regent flesht in the fury of rapine having fleeced Commons and Clergy and settled the North and South Borders cared not for the Gentry and grieved the Peers His neerest friends the Earl of Angus and others forewarned him of his Slippery station But Morton settled in the very seat of the Scorneâ— careless of any complaints made good his greatness by grace of Queen Elizabeth whom he conserved with all diligent observance His aim was to ruin Hamiltons house hating them as his Hereditary Enemies scared thereto by an old Wives Rhime which bid him beware of Arrans Race Hamiltons Family whom he banished or suppressed The two last years as it seems slipt away in shew I am sure in silence of any disturbance for ought that Authors can tell to much purpose but it is like the more was in secret hatching For as the Queens Imprisonment grew to her impatient so by Q. Elizabeth it was heightned to some danger As a Wolf by the Ear. To keep her in durance was her own disquiet and to release her dangerous to the State all their study was to counsel what to do with her and with much difficulty it was agreed upon to put her to Death There was one Antonio d' Peres Secretary to Philip of Spain escaped thence out of Prison and over he comes to England as best able here to do his Master most injury He was grown intimate with the Earl of Essex which being known to Caecil Lord Burleigh he advised that Essex might deal with him to fish out somewhat from his Masters streams which was done to the purpose revealing all his designs for the imprisoned Queen and being rewarded here had his Invitation home again with some hope of reconcilement and favor also which fell out not as he desired but as he deserv'd for he was at last hangd for his labor In many of his Letters to Essex which since came to my hands I find much of the mâ—tter but for want of the Key the Cyphers put me to trouble with some consideration What uneven policies there were towards that poor imprisoned Queen Don Iuan of Austria Governour for the King of Spain over the Netherlands proud and ambitious being Neighbourly acquainted with the Troubles of England and Scotland for to him all these discontented Fugitives repaired was made believe that the Duke of Norfolk being gon the Queen of Scots was most fit to be offered to him and easie enough to be effected with the expulsion of Queen Elizabeth and assured hopes of both Kingdomes To which purpose he hastily makes perpetual peace with the Netherlands and labours his time and means to infest England But underhand to amuse Queen Elizabeth the more gives her the occasion to congratulate the Peace by sending the Articles for her perusal intending secretly with all speed to surprize some Pieces and Ports in England and Scotland with help of the Pope who sent to the King of Spain in his behalf and the chief Fugitives of England and Scotland being with him he in an instant had swallowed the Conceit and Mariage of a Queen with two Kingdomes to boot but his wilde ambition the sooner flatted and he fooled into neglect and disdain And now dies that Princely Lady Margaret Dowglas old Countess Dowager of Lenox 63 years of age whom Queen Elizabeth kept in England at her elbow whilst her sonne Darly was maried to the Scots Queen and her husband had power there She was descended from Henry 7. by Margaret his eldest daughter maried to James 4. who had James 5. And being a widow maried to a second husband Archibald Dowglas Earl of Angus by whom she had Margaret Dowglas of Harbotel in Northumberland who maried Mathew Earl of Lenox leaves France and comes into England to Henry 8. And here invested with honour and land in Yorkshire From these issued Henry Stuart Lord Darly who maried Queen Mary of whom came King James 6. So then her descent was royall in King Edwards time in much honnor here but after in adverse fortune she lived
unbury the dead saies one and raise the coffined corps of Murray and the Sheriff against Lieth Church door their friends refusing them other funeral until revenge were taken of their slaughter and who more earnest in this resentment than the Lord Uchiltry who ignorant of any ill meaning was put upon the errand to perswade Murray to come to reconcilement which by this means was turned to murther and in regret of his Dishonour the rather sought out Bothwell to bare stakes at all hazards with him And in earnest they are But the Church interrupt the story who when the State was mostly in mischief then were they busiest for themselves the Ministery Intermixing pious Articles in their petition to the Parliament but evermore interfeering with Soveraignty The first of their demands being willingly confirmed against Papists Idolatry and crimes of blood with which the Land indeed was then much poluted But for abrogating the former acts of Anno 1584. against discipline of the Church and their liberty and in place thereof a Ratification now of the practice then The Kings wisdom foresaw the inconveniences which the Ministers assume from that term of liberty But Bothwells Business interrupting the Kings quiet a time of advance to their demands the Act was warily passed and as for the Statute of Regal power Supremacy in the King which they mostly aimed to abrogate It was only declared It should be no waies derogatory to the spiritual Office-bearer in the Church concerning heads of Religion Heresie Excommunication Collation or deprivation of Ministers or any such having ground and warrant of Gods word The King removes to Faulkland where Bothwell attempts a fresh Conspiracy being assisted by the Earls of Angus and Arroll the Master of Gray Collonel Stuart and the Lairds of Iohnston and Balmery they had their several Postures the latter met him with four hundred horse Angus kept watch without and Arrol was alwaies with the King Stuart must be the Porter to let the others in Somwhat they attempted which gave suspition sufficient so that Arrol was committed to Edenburgh Castle and the Collonel to Blackness But why these at Court were so hasty without the power of Bothwell fell out upon a false Spie that gave warning ere the Forces were nigh For Bothwell with no more than six score the Rascallity pickt up upon the Borders English and Scotish marching two daies and nights with slender diet and faint watchings arrived at Faulkland at midnight where he found the Court at their Sentries by which he feared the discovery But the day soon opened the midst of Iune and he encamped on the Hill side His Followers fall upon any booty break open the Queens stables and take out the Horses and what other baggage came to hand more regarding present plunder than the hazard of their Chief who thus at loss and the County coming in He was forced to flie but how or whether in martial Order he knew not and therefore by the next Midnight he stole away The King with his company followed by the Ferry mistaking the way hastened his course by Sterlin-bridge where Bothwells men in disorder separate to all parts and were soon seized some in the Moors of Calder and Carnwath the Horses unman'd their Riders falling from their Saddles for want of sleep Others taken napping not able to stand were committed to several Holds and some knockt on the heads by poor Plow-boys and all of them so weak that a few women mastered the most of them and Bothwell got into England And the King by experience and his own clemency found it the best way to proclaim pardon to all that would forsake the grand Traytor and come in knowing that some others might be interessed in that plot and too many of note for him to meddle with For whether in affection to Bothwell or malice to the Master of Glammis the Treasurer his Enemy Alexander Lindsey Lord of Spinie in great favour works secret attempts to reconcile him to the King Collonel Stuart still Prisoner in Blackness in hope of nope of liberty discovers it to the King at Dunfres by Sir Iames Sandilands the keeper of that house who justified before the Council That Spinie had harboured Bothwel at Aberdowre The other denies all and claims the combate which Sandilands not making good Spinie recovers into favour and yet infected with treasonable intents the next year he openly takes part with Bothwell and is denounced Rebel Others also Weymis of Logie of the Kings Bed-chamber was more than suspected and committed to Guard until his Mistress the Queens Dutch Maid in the Kings name after bed time brought the Prisoner to be questioned by the King himself the Keepers waiting without he was let in to the Chamber and out at a Window by a Rope and this being a Love-trick for her to hazard the halter the Ladies liking the conceipt and upon mariage with her Paramour procured the Queens favour and pardon for them both And with these aforesaid and divers others the faction of Bothwel increased with men of all rancks Barons and Burgesses intertaining him openly in several parts of the Country and in Tweedale the most part of those people whether the King was fain to take journey as far as Iedbury to pacifie them and settle their fidelity No sooner returned but new factions at home against the Chancellor and by the greatest Lenox Arguile Morton Glammis and Lord Hume with whom Angus Arrol and but lately released prison adjoin occasioned by the Chancellours refusing the Queens claim to some Lands of his which set the wheel in going and which forced him in wisdome to withdraw from Court into the Country for this year In the North also the Clanhattons conducted by Angus Williamson in pretence of revenge of Earl Murrays death make havock of all that belongs to Huntley with fire and Sword and fell foul upon an aged Man Gordon of Barckley for no crime but his honesty and kindred to Huntley who in revenge commits cruelties upon his Enemies encountring a great party sixty of them were slain and some of his own side And not satisfied with this he summons all the High-landers and with their help devastates all that Country and kills many until a Commission to Angus Lord Lieutenant with power of the Counties forced a cessation on both sides and returning in Triumph was seized as a Traytor and committed to the Castle of Edenburgh upon some Letters intercepted and signed by him Huntley Arrol and others to the King of Spain and sent by George Ker whose confession was That upon the receipt of Letters from Creighton the Iesuit in Spain unto Gordon and Abercrombie for alteration of Religion those return answer of the Scots concurrence and for more secrecy these three Earls undertake for all and blanks signed by them to be filled in Spain and intrusted to the Bearers in October last And he avowed
insurrections for this hurried nation often to assemble so in truth little effects followed as at this time for the Ministers to colour their intentions would seem to enact against Self-Interest and begin with themselves and fast pray and preach daies of Humiliation that was all that they would do as to their reforming But then there was sure to followcomplaint of the corruption of Courtiers in the Kings Palace and justice Seats and fear of the banished Lords and left not till the faults were found such as are common even to the best Estates Then would they ravel into Counsel of the Remedies to which the King usually would afford consent but by experience finding out their aim and danger of them to be too severe and earnest which they called zeal the King wisely chekt the bit Telling them That unless there were any evident proofs that the Popish Lords since their departure beyond Seas had conspired with Strangers to the prejudice of the Realm in Religion or State their cautions cannot in honor or justice be convict nor would he change the course of charity and conditions to their wives and children And indeed in prudence the King held himself unsafe whilst such potent Lords were abroad for much mischief they might do underhand unheard and unseen And reasoning one day with Mr. Robert Bruce a leading Minister How much it concerned him to have them recalled That Queen Elizabeth grown old if deâ—th should seize her he might need assistance of his own Interest of State and honour would ballance these Lords even against Catholique or Spanish Titles or other Designs and by such interest may be sooner drawn to the reformed Religion than by compulsory extremity Mr. Bruce yielded to the Reasons to call home Angus and Arroll but not Huntley being so much hated The Kings opinion seemed further to oversway Because Huntley saies he hath maried my Cosin one that I esteem a man of Power to do good or evil and so to be made accordingly In the end Bruce was so bold as to tell the King in plain terms I see Sir said he your affection to Huntley whom I must oppose and you either loose him or me for both you cannot keep This insolency lost him the King This for one example of many which their own Historians record of their Ministers good behaviours and certainly this mans ambition and popularity out-vied the Kings who espying his Trayn that conducted him by the Court into Edenburgh By my Sal said the King Bruce puts me down in his Attendants The exiled Lords of themselves resolved to return but withall possible submission and to avoid the least suspition of jealousie they separate Arroll through Holland Huntley came before and out of the North sends Supplication to the King and Convention at Faulkland in August to reside where his Majesty would appoint upon caution of good behaviour The King concluded aright Either to ruin them and their race or to receive them all into favour and hope of reforming into Religion The first course saith he hath its own difficulties and trouble for me if I could effect it The other is more consonant to my humour and mine honor I desire not destruction errors of conscience are not of matters of the mind I like not to receive conditions from Huntley rather to advise of commands to them all with clemency and favour which was submitted unto And the publick joy of the Queens second Birth of a Daughter made up the common reception of these Lords to community and fellowship with the Congregations She was born in August the 16. day 1596. and to be baptized in November But now the Ministry make work their Commissioners assembling at Edenburgh send Post to all their Presbyteries the State of affairs for so is the Commission That the forfeited Earls were come home without Warrant are like to be received to mercy without submission for their offences of Treason or reconcilement to the Church and conditions confirmed unto them The Preachers Pulpit these tidings to their flocks publick and private to provoke into Tumult and to be in readiness to resist the dangers of Church and State The first Sunday of December held forth for Humiliation and then the power in the Minister to tell all to the people and to inlarge as the zeal of the Spirit shall promp them They assume power to call to account all manner of men Entertainers Receivers or communicate with them to be canvased with the censures of the Church Una citatione quia periclitatur salus Ecclesiae Reipublica And with such busteling with several Commissioners from all parts of the Nation to make Residence at Edenburgh and daily to convene to receive intelligence from all parts and return Edicts and Ordinances to prevent if possible the eminent ruin to Gods People And this daily Convention being a New Modell so must it be stiled The Council of the Church And instantly they find oâ— make work the Lord Seaâ—on President of the Session was 〈◊〉 to account by the Synod of Lothian Not that he was guilty but that their power and pride might strike terror in the people for as they had no proof at all and so as by President of the Popes inquisition his Oath purges himself assures him to their Conclave and so gets home again This monstrous manner of muteny makes the Men of State to foresee mischief and not being powerful to remedie nor was it politick to publish their errors to the people or scorn upon the face of the Church The President Secretary Advocate and Laird of Colluthrie were commanded by the King to confer with as many of theirs To whom they move the question whether if these Lords satisfie the Church otherwise his Majesty desires not that then they might be pardoned and restored to their Estates But receive a Court Answer They came only to hear Prepositions and to remit them to their Brethren And so they did with Apostolick Conclusion Their acceptance of the Kings behaviour and respect to the Church not to resolve of any favour to them Rebells till the Church were satisfied But their censure by Gods Law condemned them to death and being also sentenced to lose their estates they cannot be legally pardoned nor restored or if the King or his Council should take upon them to do otherwise they were to answer it to God and the Country themselves make protestation to be free before God and man I shall not comment upon this Text. The Popish Sanadrin does so An Historian of theirs calls it Passionate zeal under which all impudence may be maintained should they be ignorant of the tender bosome of the Mother Church parent to Babes and to repentant sinners Mark their distinction The Church hath power to do as she pleaseth but the King must not he must do justice The King is wroth against them all common resentment private and publick And wise men advise the
Sovereigns choice Service And yet this Man â—ot long after proved the Contriver and the most malicious Prosecutor of such conspiracies as may be said to be the forerunners of that Kings miserable and final destruction I cannot learn whether he be living in this sin and so as yet spared for Gods mercy or unrepentant dead to his Judgments sure and suddain But to our business in Scotland In the next Assembly at Glascow the Bishops took upon them to inlarge their own authority in the Administration of all Church affairs And yet not willing to make any change though by the Kings command without brotherly approbation of the Ministers They assemble together and consent unto Articles of Government and power of the Bishops In which Assembly the Popish Lords supplicate for absolution and to subscribe to the confession of faith Huntley did so and returned to his own County Arroll went about it too but suddainly fell into such confused terror as offering violence upon his own person he was spared by his intercession of tears and prayers not to be forced against the reluctancy of his Conscience who in truth of all that sect shewed evermore much of tender minde to endeavour satisfaction to himself and so received more civility from the Church ever after Angus was most averse and had leave to banish himself into France where he died at Paris some years after There had been a good progress in Scotland for quieting the Clergie and renewing the repute of the prelacie And therefore the Arch-Bishop of Glascow with the Bishops of Brigen and Galloway having audience of the King in relation to the affairs of the Church of Scotland Told them with what care and charge he had repossessed the Bishopricks out of the hands of the Laity and other sacreligious pretenders and settled them upon reverend Men as he hoped worthy of their places But since he could not consecrate them Bishops nor they assume that honor to themselves and that in Scotland there was not a sufficient Number to enter charge by Consecration he had therefore called them into England that being here consecrated themselves they might give ordination at home and so the Presbyters mouths stopped For they had maliciously and falsely reported that the King took upon him to create Bishops and bestow spiritual Offices which he never did always acknowledging that Authority to belong to Christ alone and whom he had authorized with his own power One thing admitted dispute The Arch-Bishops of Canterbury and York always pretended Jurisdiction over Scotland and so now this consecration might be taken as a voluntary subjection to this Church But therefore London Ely and Bath performed it to them and they ordained others at home And carried back Directions for a High Commission Court also for ordering of causes Ecclesiastical which were approved by their Clergie and put into obedience From these good Men The King fished out the behaviours of his Council there and therefore to settle them in terms of honor and state at their Table they were to convene twice a week and None to stay in the Room but Counsellors nor any solicitations there But being come instantly to take their places sitting not standing unless they pleaded for themselves and then to rise and stand at the end of the Table for they were wont to quarrel and to cuff cross the board No Counsellor to be absent four days without leave of the rest Each single Counsellor to be Justice of Peace in all the Kingdom to preserve respect to their places they should not trample the streets on foot but in Coach or Horse-back with footcloths This brought some esteem to that Board who before were bearded by every Kirk-Iohn or Lay-Elder And after this posture of Governing Patrick Stewart Earl of the Isles Orkney and Yetland was sent for to humble himself to imprisonment A Custom also which was setled in the Council to command any Malignant to be in Ward by such a day or else to be horned Rebell This great man at home is there humbled before the Bishop of Orkney and is by him examined so soon is the Kings ordinance obeyed His Crimes grew up from his poverty made so by his own riot and prodigality which now he seeks to repair by shifts of Tyranny over the people under his Command and being by the Bishop reported so to the Council he was committed to Prison untill the pleasure of the King deals further in Mercy or Justice But to exercise that Nation by degrees of punishment he was afterwards released and returned home to better behaviour wherein he became for the future so faultie that two years after he was executed We have hinted heretofore the Kings business at home which in truth was his wisdom to wade through To suppress the trayterous designes of the Papists and to settle the fiery dispositions of the Schismaticks for the first their own violent progression in their late Pouder-plot drew upon them publick lawes of chastisement But these Other alas their Motion now not so violent yet perpetual the more warily to be dealt with And because no disputes Arguments nor Policies could reduce them therefore the spiritual High-Commission-Court took some course moderately to regulate their Insolencies Busie this Parliament had been in disputes of the Common and Civil Laws The first strained to such a necessitary power as in short event would mightily qualifie the other to nothing Besides this Session sate long and supplyed not the Kings wants wasting time as ever sithence in seeking Grievances To palliate the Lower-House some Messages had informed his necessary expences and to both Houses the new Treasurer late Earl of Salisbury opened the emptiness of his Office And at last the King speaks for himself at a Meeting at White-Hall He spake well and now prolix which yet I must present thus long Perfect Speâ—ches open the times and truth to posterity against our Carping Adversary I need not quote his pages take his whole History passionately and partially distempered throughout The King forgets not their late loving duties and therefore recompenseth them with a rare present a Chrystall Mirror the heart of their King which though it be in Manu Domini so will he set it in oculis populi The principal things says he agitated in this Parliament were three First Your support to me Secondly My relief to you But the third How I would govern as to former constitutions or by absolute power He begins with the last That Monarchy is the supremest thing upon Earth illustrated by three similitudes First out of Gods word You are Gods Secondly out of Philosophie Parens patriae Thirdly out of Policie the Head of this Microcosm Man For the first The attributes of God Creation Destruction Reparation to judge and not be judged and to have power of Soul and Body so of Kings and can make of Subjects as at Chesse a pawn to take a
thereof established Civility and Iustice and to his lives end he would never leave to do his best endeavours untill he might say of Scotland as one of the Emperours said of Rome Inveni lateritiam relinquo marmoream Indeed the Countrey affords more of Stone than Tile-shard They come to vote Commissioners upon the Articles of Religion whom the King commends they refuse and evermore Officers of State are suspected partial for the King and therefore they admit but of three the Chancellour Treasurer and Clerk of the Rolls They begin with the chiefest Article That what soever should be concluded by the King and the Bishops in matters of external policy should be an Ecclesiastical Law Not that the King was against the advice and assistance of a competent number of the grave and learned Ministers but to be over-ruled said he as in your former General Assemblies I shall never agree The Bishops must rule the Ministers and the King govern both in matters indifferent and not repugnant to Gods Word and so that Ariicle was formed and passeâ— Hereupon the Ministers mutiny that their Discipline should be formed to all the Ceremonies of England and Struthers in his next Sermon condemning all those Rites prayed God to save Scotland from the same sin And thus set on they frame a Protestation to the King in Parliament First against that Article and therein if remedy be not provided they shall be forced to other effects For freedom of their Church and discharge of their Consciences Their Reasons they reduce into Arguments 1. Their Reformation That the purity in Doctrine Sacraments Discipline and Order thereof hath been acknowledged rather as a Patern to be followed by all Reformed Churches of Europe than now to be put to seek it from such as never attained to it 2. That their General Assemblies formerly established to constitute and make Canons will be utterly overthrown That hitherto their Church nearest the divine and Apostolical Institution and so hath lived long without Schism and rent may now by introducing Novelties be miserably overthrown That his Majesties gracious assurance by his Letters this last Winter against all alteration of Religion and so hath been intimated in Pulpits when Rumours were dispersed of intended conformity with England These they pray may be sufficient to warn the King and Parliament not to oppress their poor Church and give grief to millions of men that otherwise would rejoice at his Majesties presence And so they resolve that rather than submit they are prepared to incur censure and to oppose This Protestation they commit to the most mad-headed man amongst them one Hewet but some of the wiser sort fearing the success desire the Arch-bishop of St Andrews to suppress it He meeting Hewet desires to peruse it and blaming the man keeps the Writing the other seizes the Paper and thus striving in the next Room the King hastily comes out and sternly fronts the Fellow who falls down of his knees and craves pardon for the Protestation professing never more to meddle therein However the King wisely suspecting some others of the same Phrensie for the present commanded that Article of the Kings Crown-prerogative not to be read till the policy of a fitter time the rest of them being read and concluded the King takes his leave and loving farewell But the Bishops had warning to summon some principal Ministers and with them to meet him at St. Andrews 10. of Iuly where the King greets them How great my care hath been for the Church saith he since I had authority and power to perform it your consciences cannot but confess I need not tell you I seek no thanks God knows my heart for true worship of him and decent order in the Church whilest I resolved of this Iourney to visit you I gave you warning to insert some Articles into your Acts of the Church those were anniversary commemorations of Christ's blessings to man as his Nativity Passion Resurrection Ascension and Descent of the Spirit another for private use of both Sacraments a third for reverend administration of the Communion and a fourth for catechising and confirming children by Bishops I was answered that they had not been moved in any of the Churches Assembly and so I was silent And lately desiring but my Prerogative to be declared in making Ecclesiastical Laws ye mutined and protested against me But I pass all amongst many other wrongs frequent from you The Errand I have now is to know your Arguments why the same ought not to be granted Reason shall ever guide me and if my Demands are so just and religious too I will not be refused nor resisted And with that browing upon them with a full eye majestical and stern They all fell down on their knees The King went on It is a power innate a princely special Prerogative which Christian Kings have to order and dispose external things in the outward policy of the Church as We with our Bishops advice shall think â—it And Sirs said he for your approving or disproving deeceive not your selves Me ye shall not I will have my Reason not opposed They were all becom new men humbly besought they might confer and so return an uniform Answer which in two hours space produces a Retition for a General Assembly wherein all his Majesties Articles being proponed they might with common consent be received I says the King but what assurance have I of their consenting They protested that they saw no reason to the contrary But if it be otherwise and your reason now be none of theirs then the Articles refused my difficulty the more and when I shall hereafter put my own Authority in use I shall be pulpited a Tyrant Persecutour Ye were wont so to do All crying out That none durst be so mad Yet experience tells me says he that it hath been so therefore unless I be sure I shall not grant your Assembly They craved the Arch-bishop of St Andrews to answer for them but he refused having been formerly deceived At length they procured leave to assemble in November next at St Andrews Simson that subscribed to the Protestation writes to his Brethren those Articles which he calls Tricas Anglicanas the Letter-carrier was Catherwood who for his insolency to the Kings face was committed and after banished and Simson sent to Edenburgh Castle where he lay till December And so the King returns to England by the West parts and at Dunfres had his farewell Sermon by the Bishop of Galloway which made the hearers heavy at their hearts The King gone home the Assembly met but willingly would have delayed their Conclusion of the five Articles till they might inform their Flocks of the equity of them and so they went away which the King considers as an high contempt and breach of their promise and commands the Bishops of St Andrews and of Glascow precisely in their own persons to keep Christmass day next preaching of Texts according to
King with some of his Friends Ormston Carmichel and others who mistrusting encompassed the Chancellor and so he got forth The suspition and danger of some design intimated to the King Huntley is sent for examined and committed to the Castle which occasioned the company with Crawford and Arroll to dissolve and their design discovered And for not appearing before the Council Arroll and Bothwell are denowned Rebells Montross and Crawford submit and Huntley left alone does so too and is permitted to go to his North Government By the way he meets with Montross and Crawford belay the way to surprize the Treasurer and gave him chase to Brikel where he was received and they fire the House and so forced to yield himself Prisoner for some Weeks But thus prepared for the cause they take arms again close and undiscovered till several Messengers bring newes to the King a Hunting That Bothwell Huntley and others were marching The King gathers such Forces as he could for the present Bothwell ever inconstant retires to places of strength and is left of his Men. Huntley goes on surprizes Glams his Enemy and Captain of the Guard But at the Kings neerer approach quits all and lurks at home amongst the Rocks at Strathbolgie but not safe from himself his rebellious heart suspects the issue and so submits to mercy which was no worse than a Prison for the present and afterwards he and his pardoned upon Petition Whilst these disorders were at home their former Letters sent to the King of Spain and to Parma and some others also from Bruce were intercepted by Q. Elizabeth which laid open all the practices of the Lords And therefore she writes to the King Complaining of his remissness in punishing these Treacheries and of his kindness to such of the Spaniards that fled into Scotland after their wreck at Sea she besought him not to delay opportunity to punish the Offenders and to rid the Realm of such Strangers Hereupon they were shipped over towards West Flanders and by the way were met a league from that Coast by some Hollanders set out to intercept them who boarded one ship putting all the Spaniards to the sword the rest ran their ships a ground and most of the Men pittifully drowned A Proclamation issued out against all Iesuits remaining and Hay Creighton Bruce and Graham expressly commanded to depart upon pain of death but they inticing Huntley Crawford and Arroll take arms together came to Aberdeen in April and declare That the King is kept Captive requiring all good Subjects to join for relief and freedom of the people They depended on Bothwell and his Forces in the South whom the King proclaimed Rebels And for the present marches against the Earls as far as Cowry neer Aberdeen where he was told that the enemy was three thousand strong and hastning to meet the King The King put to the straight cheers up his Company That they had the better cause and himself in person to suffer with them against such whose conditions could never be wrought upon by benefits or good deeds to make them loyal assist me therefore as you shall find me forward rather for you than for my self Thus resolved Hamilton and Angus differ for the honour of the Vant-guard Angus claiming the place by privilege heretofore granted to his Predecessors Hamilton argued his neerness to the Blood Royall who carried it by the Kings favour But the next Morning discovers the Enemy dispersed for fear or favor to the Kings person to which respect Crawford condescended but Arroll earnest to fight and they refusing he parted from them at d ee Bridge and the King returns to Edenburgh And there in some assurance he disposes his affairs for consumating his mariage with Denmark and to bring his Bride into Scotland The Earl Marshall had the Commission assisted in Company with the Lord Dingwell Sir Iames Seringeour Mr. Iohn Sheen Advocate and Mr. Young Arch-deacon of St. Andrews And for the more honorable defraying the expence a subsidy of a hundred thousand pounds punds I conceive was granted by the Council by a former Warrant of Parliament 1587. and sudden payment was made by the well-willing Subjects earnestly desiring a Mariage for the issue of Royal Succession in his Race Against this time of publique joy the Rebels humbly submit to Justice and were impannell'd before the Earls of Hamilton Angus Morton Athol Mar and Marshall four Lords and four Lairds 1. They were charged for practising with Jesuits and others against the Religion receiving money from Spain and therewith raising forces 2. That they had confederacy with Arroll Montross and others and treasonably surprized Perth 3. That they conspired to imprison the King to murder Maitland and Thirlstan Counsellors of State 4. For besieging the house of Kirkhill firing that house and imprisoning the Lord Treasurer Glams 5. And convocated by Proclamation the Kings liege people against his Majesty 6. They opposed the Kings forces and his Person at Dee 7. They seized the Kings Herauld and rifled his Letters 8. And the last concerned only Bothwell for entertaining Strangers and others at Dalkieth forcing the Town of Lieth They were adjudged guilty but the sentence suspended Crawford committed to Blackness Bothwel to Tantallon and Huntley to Edenburgh Castle We may wonder why the Ministers are missing in all these broyls and now the Assembly convened at Edenburgh the King desired them to afford him Patrick Galloway to attend his Court They now acknowledge his Majesties Power to command and his grace and favour to acquaint them with his pleasure A good beginning of their duty and obedience not long lasting For the King having given his Kinswoman The Duke of Lennox Sister the last year in mariage to Huntley and the Bishop of Saint Andrews celebrating the same was then censured by the Acts of their Church the Bishop not acknowledging their power against his Majesties command they pronounce and deprive him of all function in the Church and ratifie the judgement to be proclaimed in publick This troubles the King and in fear of more disquiet was fain to suffer their Sentence and to make peace with all and remits the imprisoned Lords to liberty for now he hears that the Mariage is accomplished by Proxie and the Queen at Sea when lo an unlookt-for message that the Navy of her Conduct was driven by Tempest into Norway where she should stay till the Spring But his affection over-mastering all difficulties he resolves to hasten a Scotish fleet and fetch her home himself And to shadow his purpose from any home distempers he pretends to send the Chancellour and Iustice Clark in Commission to her But the ships fitted he in private sets sail in October leaving a direction to the Council for Government of his Kingdom under his own hand-writing thus To satisfy some concerning himself and to take off suspition of blame upon others he shews them the Causes and the reason of
Rebellion And therefore Proclaims all their particular proceedings with remonstance of their Misdemeanors and to prevent disorder now and confusion to follow by advise of his Councill discharges the commissioners and dissolves their convention illegal in it self and worse unlawfully executed by them Whom he commands by Name to depart home in 24 hours to attend their flocks and duties in their Ministery And no wayes to return to convene either within or without the Burroughs of Edenburgh under the pain of Rebellion But we tire the reader and yet hereby we may discover what they did in such like many more for to the death they will proceed Hereupon they consult that seing they had been convened by the warrant of Christ to take care of hazard to the Church Et ne quid ecclesia detrimenti caperet They should obey God rather than man And notwithstanding any charge to the contrary to continue together and to send to the Octavians those 8 Councellors of State formerly mentioned that seing at the entrance to their places the Church was in quiet and peace and now to be imbroyled the Enemies to truth overpowring and all by their councels and connivance The event of evil must fall upon them the Contrivers or Connivers The President hastily made answer As they began so let them end the Councills advice neither was desired nor given on either part and therefore would not meddle between the King and them but leave it to his Majesty and Nobles This answer taught them fresh advice to remonstrate to the King himself by Messengers of their own and fearing the effects the Kings anger humbly interceed for surcease of Processe against Master Blake Until his Majesty should be pleased to convoke an Assembly for deciding all controversies to the Kings content To which he consented provided they would passe by the Declinator or at least to declare that it was not a Generall but a particular Declinator used in Blakes case only as being a cause of slander and so appertaining to the judgment of the Church This by the wiser was held fit to be received as an end of contention No! Rather to stand to their tacklings Gods cause Against worldly powers Ravelling into former examples of prevailing against Princes Others argued to try Mastery with Majesty may faile of effects as yet the Court stand in some fear of the Church and to keep up their concept let us take the best conditions we can least our weaknesse appear if we have the worst and so the terror of the Church despised or neglected Much will portends little wit and as it is often seen who gripes at all grasp nought but wind and to levy all their wills is to lose all their wits of which God send them more plenty than appears by their proceedings But not prevailing the King proceeds to proclaim their departure and Blakes appearance as afore ordered The next day sunday solemnized the christning of the Princesse Bows Ambassadour gave Her name from his Queen Elizabeth and the Town of Edenburgh by their Majestrates assisted as other witnesses Yet all that day in the Churches were bitter invectives The Commissioners of the Church presented a Petition to the King and Council That seing the decision of intricate questions could work no good and was subtilly urged to ingender discention between his Majesty and the Church he would be pleased to remit the discision to a lawfull Assembly and not to incroch upon the limitts of Christs Kingdom upon any pretence but to bend his actions against the common Enemie of the Church and state the Papists Then they exhort the Noblemen to give his Majesty faithfull Counsel and not to be subject to the guilt of sin by the craft of such as seek the thraldom of the Gospel who intend to exite their honours to be the Executors of their malitious devises With order to those that presented this Petition that if the same was refused to enjoyn them to protest against the preceeding of the Councel The King rejects it as not worthy of Answer commanding to call Blake to his summons First That he affirmed in Pulpit that the Popish Lords were returned with his Majesties knowledg and further assurance wherein he had detected the treachery of his heart Secondly that he called all Kings the Divells barns and that the Divel was in the court and in the Guiders thereof Thirdly That in his prayers for Queen Ann he had used these words we must pray for her in fashion but we have no cause she will never do us good That he called the Queen of England an Atheist That he had discussed a suspention granted by the Lords of Session in Pulpit and called them Miscreants and Bribers That the Nobillity were degenerate godlesse dissemblers and enimies to the Church That the Council were Holliglasses Cormorants and men of no Religion And that he had convocated divers Noblemen and others within Saint Andrews in June 1594. caused them to take arms in troops of Horse and Foot and thereby usurped the power of King and Council After reading of the summons Robert Pont their Minister protested that the processe in hand should not prejudice the Church To which the King answered that he meant not to meddle with matters of doctrine but to censure the treasonable speeches of a Minister which he and his Councel would judg except that by scripture it could be held forth that Ministers were not subject in these cases to judicatures Blake makes answer that the accusations were false calumnies producing testimonies of two which he alleged should be preferred to aâ—y report whatsoever Next he said That to the first six points the Council were not lawfull Iudges of speeches in Pulpit but the Presbytery where the sermon was uttered And so presents a second Declinator But being put to voyces it was sentenced That the crimes and accusations mentioned in the summons were seditious and treasonable and that the King and Council were competent Judges in all matters criminall or civill as well to Ministers as other subjects The Council dissolved the King willing to conserve peace and amity to the Ministers offered terms of reconciliation and to return Blake to his charge and Pastorage Bruce answered That if it concern'd only Master Blake the offer might be accepted but the liberty of Christs Kingdom being wounded by the Proclamation and by usurping spiritual Iurisdiction of greater consequence then Master Blakes life and twenty more and that if those things were not retreated they would oppose during the last aspiration of breath The King the next morning treated with some of theirs Shewing how far he was from impairing spiritual Jurisdiction that he would amplifie and inlarge the same but said he to discourse of State in Pulpits is intollerable I clame to judg in matters of sedition and civil and criminal causes and of speeches that may import such crimes and if the Pulpit should be a place of privilege under
colour of doctrine to stir up sedition no good man will grant If Treason and sedition be crimes punishable much more comitted in the Pulpit where the word of truth only should be taught I am not ignorant what France of late and England formerly have suffered by the violence of such spirits And I may not indure it Hereupon the Church finding the King resolved desire some Declaration to be made to the people in favour of Church Assemblies which they feared was hereby of late somewhat weakned which the King assented unto and it was accordingly published to give finall conclusion to these differences Blake was required only to acknowledg his offence to Queen Ann. And to be pardoned of all This he would not do and was therefore sentenced To have falsely sâ—andered and treasonably calumniated the Kings Majesty his consort the Queen his Neighbour Princesse the Queen of England the Lords of the Council and Session and that till his Majesties further pleasure he should be confined beyond the North water enter ward within six dayes and Ten daies more were taken up to decide these differences and the King condiscends to lesser submissions than before But the Commissioners refuse to agree to any censure of Master Blake as not done by the proper Iudg. And so they ordain a fast and pray and preach complaints of wrong done to the Kingdom of Christ. The King on his part made the grounds of his displeasure known to his people by Declaâ—ation setting forth particulars of the last Transactions Ordaining all Ministers to subscribe their obedience to his Majesty and to set their hands to the bonds presented to them to that effect under pain of sequestring their rents and stipends till they submitted Blake to go to ward and the Commissioners to remove out of Town They increase Aspersions upon the King who willingly would have recalled these sentences and Publications and some Ministers were treated therein till a scandalous Letter was devised and sent by under hand advise that Huntley had private reception by the King over night and caused the charge against the Ministers Balcanqual takes his text out of the Canticles and so to present the troubles of the Church relates the late proceedings which he calls treacherous forms of the Council naming particular officers The President and Controuler and Advocate with reproachfull raylings and concludes to advise the Barons and Nobles to meet in the little Church for assisting the ministry From them came a petition to the King in behalf of his Ministers and presented to him in the uper house of session with complaints uttered by Bruce of all which had passed The King declining the petition and remonstrance asked who they were that durst convene against his proclomation The Lord Lindsey passionatly replied That they durst do more than so and would not indâ—re destruction of Religion Numbers of people thronging into the Room the King removed the people seduced by Lindsey and others some said arm others called out to bring forth Haman others cry'd out the sword of the Lord and Gideon And with much adoe to appease the peoples rage at they knew not what The Lords and Ministers meet propose Articles to the King and whilst they design who shall present them each one refusing The King and Councel remove out of Edenburgh into Linlithgow Ordering a Proclamation to signifie the reasons of this departure the Town being unsafe for his person and Council and unfit for the administration of justice by the late in sufferable Tumults commanding all Lords of session Commissioners c. and their Deputies to remove out of the Town of Edenburgh and be in redinesse to that place they should be after assigned And the Noblemen and Barons to withdraw to their own Houses and not to covene or Assemble under pain of the Kings displeasure The City is amazed with these proceedings not knowing what to do or whom to trust unto The Ministers night and day restlesse to get subscriptions and to covenant to call in certain Noblemen of note Hamelton Backlugh and others Fast and pray and preach what stuffe best befits their projects one amongst many others Iohn Welch takes his theam the Epistle sent to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus rayl'd against the King who he said was possessed of a Divel and one Divel the King put out seven worse are entred in That the Subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hand by example saies he Of a father faln into frenzie might be bound hand and foot by his family from doing mischief Yet this execrable doctrine was received by some nay they preach that the Earl Arrol had come to the Ferry with four hundred horse the day of Tumult but the rising of the people as a providence of God for good scattered his forces in fear of the Town so prepared And being Masters of all they undertake to send Messengers to the Earl Hamelton with letters that the people animated by motion of Gods spirit had taken Arms with the patronage of such Godly well affected Noblemen and Brethren then at Edenburgh for the cause of God Only they wanted a Head an especial Nobleman to countenance their cause And having made chioce of him they invite him to Edenburgh with all convenient speed and thereby to signifie his affection and to accept the honor which the Church of God had offered unto him It was writ and subscribed by Bruce and Balcanquall and sent to Hamelton who receives the Messenger with all shew of kindness and seems to prepare his journey for Edenburgh but by the way better advised he turns to Linlithgow and presents the King with the letter who wondered at the modesty of the man accounted more ambitious than to neglect such a rise to tempt his humour by whom had the letter taken effect it might have caused strang Rebellions when the Church had begun to act their part with so much power a bloody issue alwaies following the pretended zeal for Religion as the most part of Christendom have felt the miserable effects and great Britain most of all The insurrection and letter made work for speedy Counsel to act for the King and the Provost had order for imprisoning the Ministers who got loose and fled to New Castle in England The Town send Commissioners to purge themselves protesting their Innocencâ—e and offer their obedience for repairing the indignity and dishonor done to the King but served not for their purgation for the next day the Tumult was by the Counsel declared Treason and the devisers Actors and Partakers to be Traytors Edenburgh smarted for all the inhabitants in fear of desolation the law-Courts removed to Lith the Session to Perth the Ministers fled the Magistrates dispised and all men without the walls their enemies And again most humbly supplicate the King with the best excuse for themselves The King told them that he would proceed with them
curtesie of Speech not de jure nor have privilege as Lords of Parliament and these are the Son and Heir of a Duke called an Earl his eldest Son a Baron but not in Pleadings and so of Daughters stiled Ladies by curtesie onely On Saint Iames his day in Iuly the King and Queen were crowned at Westminster in that fatal Chair of Sovereigns anointing in it remains a large blackish Stone Jacob's Pillow say the Scots in his Ladder Dream of the Messias from his Loins and indeed so ceremonious he was then that he sacrificed thereon naming it Domus Dei and in his Return from Laban forgat not thereon to pay his Vows in which esteem he conveyed it with his Râ—licks in his general remove to Egypt but from thence the Israelites flying in haste and pursued they it seems left thâ—s Monument behinde and one Gathelus wedded to Pharaoh's Daughter though a stranger observant of the Hebrews Rites transported it to Galicia of his name Port-Gathelick thence by his Seed carried into Ireland so by Ferguard sent to Penthland or Scotland crowning their Kings thereon And Edward 3. brought it from thence Even then when grave Bards did sing that ancient Saw Ni fallat fatum Scoti hunc quocunque locatum Inveniunt Lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem The Scots sall bruke that Ream as Naitiff Grund Gif Wierds fail nocht quhair eir this Chair is fund Another very ancient Post Iacobum Iacobus Iacobum Iacobus quoque quintus At sextus Iacobus Regno regnabit utroque After a James sall be a James a third James and a fourth A fifth James also but the sixth sall sway the Scepters both These are no conceits commonly made up ere half-molded for they were read many Ages before he or his abortive Book were born And with his Crown he taketh Oath To keep and maintain the Right and Liberties of the Church and shall keep all the Lands Honours and Dignities righteous and free of the Crown of England and the Rights of the Crown decayed and lost he shall call again to his power into the ancient Estate shall keep the peace of the Church of the Clergy and People and do Equity and Iustice with discretion and mercy shall hold the Laws and Customs of the Realm and the evil Laws put out to establish peace to the People and no Charter to grant but by Oath Abridgment Henry 8. Statutes This Ceremony ended there were 24. Knights of the Bath invested who were received into White-hall in the evening and supped together in one Room sitting by degrees with their Escocheons of their proper Arms placed above their Heads they were lodged upon Pallats on the floor under their Arms after they had been bathed in several Baths provided in Chambers the next morning they were apparelled in Hermits weeds and marshalled into Saint James's Park with loud Musick and the Heralds going before and so about the Courts of White-hall and then into the Chapel with their Reverence before the Altar-table and the Cloath of Estate as at St Georges Feast they take their places in stalls theirs Arms above and hear Service Then each Knight with his two Esquires offered at the Altar Pieces of Gold and so retired in the former manner to their Chambers and then adorned themselves with Robes of Crimson Taffata with Hats and white Feathers and so were conducted to the King into the Presence-chamber under the Cloath of State who girt each of them with a Sword and had gilt Spurs put on their Heels dined together and so to the Even-Song at the Chapel where they offered their Swords The next day in Robes of Purple Sattin with Doctors Hoods on their shoulders Hats with white Feathers and so feasted again and lodged that night as before and the next day departed They are dignified and distinguished from other Knights by a Medall of three Crowns of Gold which is hanging at a Red Ribband which they should wear about their necks during their life These Knights are commonly Youths of the Sons of Noblemen or Nobless So now the King is established with all the Rites of Coâ—firmation in Honour and Love of his People and may be ranked in competition with the most for the Western Monarchy which had been hotly pursued by Henry 8. in opposition to France and Spain about whose time the House of Austria settled into that Design And because we have left the King in joyfull solemnity let us step aside out of the Court jollity and seriously consider the cunning contrivances of neighbour Kings heretofore for Imperial domination It was set on work by union of Mariage in Charles the Grand-Child of Maximilian the Emperour of the House of Austria and of Ferdinand of Spain who being heir to them both inherited also the Netherland Arragon Castile Scicile and the Indies 1503. And because Lewis of France as great in power stood in Competition the other therefore sought to Master it by cunning inter-marriage with Charles and his daughter Claud which was no sooner contracted but as sodainly crackt and He affianced to Mary the Daughter of Henry the seventh of England and to whose sonne Arthur Ferdinand had married Katherin his youngest daughter 1506. This double union with England encourages the other to break with France but Arthurs death and his father soon following and they still afraid of France clap up a fresh match with the widdow Katherin and Henry the eighth and a Bull subdated the Popes death dispensed with it 1510. Henry the eighth left rich by his father young and active is put upon quarrels with France that either Kingdoms might spend themselves in War as they did in wonderfull designes To whose assistance the other interpose with either party and with inconstancy as the necessity of State-Interest intervened But upon Maximilians death the Emperial Crown falls in Competition of France and Spain Charles now put to it seeks to get in with England and acknowledges the fowl Inconstancies of his Predecessors towards Henry the eighth In which he confesses as he was involved so his youth and duty then tyed him more to Obedience than Truth but now grown a Man and Himself the mutual dangers of either would give assurance for his part where otherwise he saith single faith might mistrust Henry the eighth thus cousened into some kindness both by his own power and purse makes Charles Emperour and the French King his Prisoner 1519. And so his turn served a peace is concluded with France and the King of England at whose charge all was effected is left out of any satisfaction And to amuze him from revenge intices Desmond to rebell in Ireland and assisted Iames the fift of Scotland with amunition and mony to buysie England at home 1526. And being in this height of Imagination to have wrought wonders in reducing the Election of the Popes from the Cardinals to the Emperour set others to quarrel with the Pope also who very
Kings to the Commons in Parliament and they to joyn with the Peers from whence it became the wisdom of Princes how to mannage this Government and to maintain this Form Lest some of this Body knit under one Head should swell and grow monstrous And Monarchy may sooner groan under the weight of Aristocracy as it often did than under Democracy which till now it never felt nor feared The Actions of which singly are inconsiderable after many Conjunctions grow at last into one great perfecting power or into Destroying Factions like smaller Brooks falling into some Main River The Parliament of England of long time and at this present was come to be a Convention of the Estates of the Kingdom assembled by the King of Bishops Peers and Peoples Commissioners They sat in two Senate-Houses or Chambers named a Higher and a Lower The Higher called also the House of Peers the Bishops and Peers viz. Dukes Marquesses Earls and Barons sit together with whom sit the Judges of the law for their advice not voice The Lower House called also the House of Commons is constituted of Knights of the Shire two Elected of every Shire and of Cities and Incorporations one or more Burgesses The day and place of Assembly is appointed by the King and adjourned removed elsewhere and dissolved at his pleasure The Lords or Peers are called by writs transmitted to them under the Kings hand The Commons by the Kings writ out of Chancery The writ to the Peers runs thus James by the Grace of God c. To the most reverend father in Christ so he stiles the Bishops Cousin if he speaks to the Peers for as much as by the advice of our Council upon some diffident and urgent affairs us and the State and defence of our Kingdom of England and the Church of England concernant We have ordained that our Parliament be held at c. there to consult and Treat with you and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads of our said Kingdom of England We strictly charge and command you on your faith and love if to the Bishops by your fealty and Alleagance if to the Peers wherein you stand bound to us that considering the difficulty of the said affairs and the dangers iminent laying aside whatsoever excuse you be personally present on the said day and place with us and the rest of the Prelates Nobles and Heads to treat and give your advice touching the said affairs and this as you tender us and our Honour and the safety of our said Kingdom and Holy-Church and dispatch of the said affairs may you in no wise omit if he writes to the Bishops to warn the Dean and Chapiter of your Church and the whole Clergie of your Diocess that the same Dean and Arch-Deacons in their proper persons and the said Chapiter by one and the same Clergie by two sufficient substitutes having plenary and sufficient power from the said Chapiter and Clergy be personally present on the said day and place to consent to these things which then and there by the favor of the divine Clemencie shall happen to be ordained by the Common advice of our Kingdom Witness ourselves c. The other writ to the Sheriffs and Mayors of the Cities and Corporations is thus The King to the Sheriff Greeting For as much by the advice and consent of our Council and so goes on as above and there to confer and treat with the Prelates Peers and Heads of our Kingdom We strictly charge and command you that by proclamation made in your Shire upon the receipt of our writ you cause two Knights with swords by their sides the most sufficient and discreet of the Shire and of every City of that County two Citizens and of every Borough two Burgesses of the most discreet and sufficient to be freely and indifferently chosen by such as shall be present at the Proclamation according to the form of the Statutes on that behalf set forth and provided And the Names of the said Knights Citizens and Burgesses to be inserted in certain Indentures to be drawn between you and them that shall be present as such Elections whether the persons so chosen be present or absent And then to come at the same day and place so that the said Knights have full and sufficient power for themselves and the Communalty of the said Shire and the said Citizens and Burgesses for themselves and the Communities of the Cities Boroughs respectively from the same to do and consent to such things as then and there shall happen by Gods assistance to be ordained by the commune advice of our Kingdom concerning the affairs offered so that by your neglect therein the said affairs in any case remain not undone Notwithstanding we will not that you or any other Sheriff of our Kingdom be chosen At the day and place they meet at the Church first then at the Parliament-Houses orderly in their Robes with solemn gate such as might increase in the people the authority of their siting Then the King enters the Upper-House and either in his own person or by the mouth of his Chancellor declares the weighty causes of their Assembling in Contemplation whereof he desires their advice to communicate their Counsels in doubtfull matters most certain That himself be present at these consultations needs not but only as oft as he sees good There is no necessity after this unless in the end of the Session to add the strength and force of Laws to their results The Knights Citizens and Burgesses in the Lower-House are Man by Man called forth by their Names by some one delegated by the King and each is made to take the Oath of Alleageance heretofore was this I will keep true faith and Alleageance to James by the grace of God c. King His Heirs and successors Him and them I will defend to my utmost strength and with the hazard of my life and fortunes against all conspiracies and attempts against his Person Crown and Dignity And lest any should dream of a Consortship in Government there was superadded the Oath of Supremacy in these words I A. B. do utterly testifie and declare in my conscience that the Kings Highness is the onely Supreme Governour of this Realm and all other his Highness Dominions and Countreys as well in all Spiritual and Ecclesiastical things or causes as Temporal and that no forein Prince Person Prelate State or Potentate hath or ought to have any Iurisdiction Power Superiority Preheminence or Authority Ecclesiastical or Spiritual within this Realm and therefore I do utterly renounce and forsake all forein Iurisdictions Powers Superiorities and Authorities and do promise that from henceforth I shall â—ear Faith and true Alleageance to the Kings Highness his Heirs and lawfull Successors and to my power shall assist and defend all Iurisdictions Privileges Preheminences and Authorities granted or belonging to the Kings Highness his Heirs and Successors or united and
the E. of Salisbury 1. Therein they acknowledg the late Design most inhumane and barbarous attempted by undertaking Spirits more fiery and turbulent than zealous and dispassionate to the general stain of the State of their catholick cause in the eye of corrupt judgments not able to farm away the fault of the Professor from the Profession it self which abhors the fact more than any Puritan does 2. They accuse him the Primus Motor to determine the â—ooting out all memory of their Religion by Banishment Massacre Imprisonment or some such insupportable pressures or else the next Parliament to decree more cruel and horrible Laws against them 3. They threaten that there are some good men for continuing their Religion and for saving of many Souls resolve to prevent it though with assured Ruine and admonish him that five have severally undertaken his Death by Vow upon the blessed Sacrament if he continues his daily plotting against them That not any of them know the other for preventing discovery the first shall attempt by shot and the rest follow and all of them glory in their own sacrifice to prevent the general calamities of Catholicks which by his transcendent Authority with the King is more than expected They tell him that for the easier digestion of the Danger two of the Attempters are so weak they cannot live three moneths the other three so distressed for being onely Catholicks that their grief dulls any apprehension of death 4. As for themselves that admonish they know no other means to prevent it he being the Match to give fire to his Majesty to whom the worst they wish is to be as great a Saint in Heaven as he is a King on Earth And conclude Where once true spiritual resolution is the weak may take sufficient revenge of the mighty A. B. C. D. c. His Answer 1. That the Panegyrical Oration of Pope Sixtus Quintus preferred the Murder of Henry 3. of France before the act of Iudith to Holofernes by which Gods people were delivered onely the Papists make ill interpretations where it fails in execution for otherwise Faelix scelus virtus vocatur and many other Authors maintain deposing Kings And wonders that those who imploy such seditious Spirits have not by definitive Sentence wherein the Pope is supposed not to err explained their assumed power over Princes for security as well of those which acknowledg his Superiority as of others which do not approve his Iurisdiction that Subjects may know their distance of fidelity to either As for the former practice by Excommunication it deprives onely from spiritual graces without so gross an usurpation as to destroy their being in nature The Writ it self De Excommunicato capiendo and others such proceed rather from the goodness of such Christian Kings to work better obedience to the Rules of the Church than from the power of Excommunication All Cenâ—ures of the Church having left life untouched Sive Ethnicus sive Publicanus Many Heathens teaching this Rule Bonos Imperatores Voto expetere oportet quoscunque tolerare He marvels at those dark Writings published upon this Accident against such as shall attempt against Princes by private Authority but leaves it a tacit lawfulness by publick Warrant like their gross Equivocation so extolled at Rome though it sunders all humane conversation Saint Austin refuses the Priscilian Hereticks in their Equivocation Corde creditur says he ad Iustitiam ore fit confessio ad salutem c. breaking out into expostulation O fontes lacrymarum How shall we hide our selves from the displeased face of Truth 2. That these Calumniations are like Adam's Fig-leafs unable to cover their shame for as he sought a covering Non quia nudus sed quia lapsus so is it their fault not their fear to cast imputations upon Prince and State Sed pereuntibus mille figurae So Nero set Rome on fire and after laid the blame on Christians The pecedent Reigns of the two late Sisters of different Religions more bloud in five or six years of the first than in five and forty of the second Hath this King shewed any print of bloudy steps rather qualified than added severe Laws And appeals to their own consciences judg and witness whether the fury of this Treason inflaming many against Catholicks the nature of sudden peril hardly admits just distinction hath committed any one act of bloud or cruelty under colour of publick safety Nam crudelit as si a vindicta justitia est si a periculo prudentia Nay the King pronounced in open Parliament after Not to condemn the general for particulars as a Prince of peace and mercy deferring execution which Theodosius wishing Se potuisse potius mortuos a morte revocare As for the imaginary Power of the Lords of the Council and himself of the Quorum he takes it as an honour to receive not onely injury but persecution in so noble a society who know that Counsellours for Kings stand for thousands or hundreds as he pleases to place them Their greatness growing from humble endeavours their merit from gracious acceptance and though they borrow his name as the Boutefeu to make him the Mark of their malice yet such as judg the spirit of the Pasquil will hardly imagine but that this Faction follows onely the body of Authority neither head nor members but also the Church and Common-wealth which like Hippocrates Twins have long wept and laughed together His greatness being onely in the eye of envy of those which ground their faith upon weak principles if they imagine his distinction a matter he says of so small consequence can clear them free from contriving higher practices 3. To the Protestation that the five Assassinators having their feet so near the grave their ghostly Father deserves less thanks to send them thither with Hempen Halters and in bloudy Coffins not the marks of Rome Heathen nor Christian for Victories were scorned which were barbarously gotten Mixt is vene no fontibus And the Arms of the Primitive Church were Tears and Prayers But such Recusants as do discover these pernitious spirits will discern the darkness and danger of that Religion lapped up in implicite obedience the Conscience and Treason growing up as close together as the Husk and Corn in one Ear to eat their God upon bargains of bloud Those that are full of grief as is said for being Râ—cusants Plus tristitiae quam poenitentiae more that their Plot failed than that it was intended Counsellours are Sentinels over the life of Kings and States The Laws which punish the Branches of all Treason are derived from Parliaments of two hundred years in force and so are our Laws made not by a few much less by any one 4. As for himself with whom they condition to leave off his Plotting against Recusants The Husband-man over-curious of Windes and Clouds neither sows nor reaps in season So that Servant that becomes awfull of his Sovereigns Enemies for power or envy deserves not favour
This Robert was at first Abbot of Holy-rood-house for divers years After the forfeiture of Hepburn Earl of Bothwell and the obtaining those Isles he exchanged the Abbacy with the Bishoprick of Orkney and so became sole Lord of the County Patrick succeeding to an elder Brother and grown a Courtier involved himself in great debts which inforced him the more tyrannous over the people to recover his wants At Glasgow was apprehended Oglevy a Jesuite lately come from Gratts by command of his Superior in that College He answered peremptory to the Commissioners questions professing not to prejudice others by any Confession Their torture to inforce him to impeach others was to debar him sleep for some time until he was forced falsely to accuse any body which he after repose would deny again The King was displeased with such forms to men of his profession and if no crime could be proved but his Calling and saying Mass they should banish him not to return on pain of Death but if his practice had been to induce the people to rebellion and maintained the Popes power transcendent over Kings and resused the Oath of Allegiance they should leave him to the Law But with all they were to urge his Answer to these Questions 1. Whether the Pope be Iudge in Spiritualibus over his Majesty and whether in Temporalibus if it be in Spiritualia 2. Whether the Pope hath power to excommunicate Kings such as are not of his Church as his Majesty 3. Whether he hath power to depose Kings after his excommunication and in particular his Majesty 4. Whether it be no Murther to kill the King so deposed 5. Whether He hath power to assoil subjects from the Oath of their native Allegiance to his Majesty He answers in writing To the first Affirmative in Spiritualibus But whether in Temporalibus he is not obliged to answer to any but a Iudge of Controversyes of Religion the Pope or one by his Authority To the second affirmative and that all persons baptized are under the Popes power To the third He will not declare but to a lawful Iudge of Religion To the rest ut supra He could not be moved by threats but rather railed at the Oath of Allegiance as damnable and treasonable against God and so came to Tryal of Life but was told over night That he was not to be tryed concerning his profession but for his former Answers to the Questions which he may recal and crave mercy but this he utterly refused And so was impannell'd grounded upon the Acts of Parliament against such as declined the Kings authority or maintained other Jurisdiction and upon his former answers He protests not to acknowledge the Iudges nor Iudgement Lawfull for if it be Treason here it should be so in all other Kingdoms which is not Your Acts of Parliament are made by partial men and of Matter not subject to their forum for which I will not give a fig. The King hath no Authority but derivative from his Predecessors who acknowledged the Popes Iurisdiction if the King will be to me as they were to minâ— he shall be my King if otherwise I value him not And for the reverence I do to you bare-headed It is ad redemptionem vexationis not ad agnitionem Judicii That the Iury were either his Enemies or his Friends if Enemies they could not sit upon his Tryal if Friends they ought to assist him at the Bar That what he suffered was injurious and not Iustice he had not offended nor would crave Mercy My Commission said he was by command of my Superiour and if I were abroad I would return hether again and repent only that I have not been so busie as I should in that which you call Perverting of Subjects and I call Saving of souls I do decline the Kings authority and will do it still in matter of Religion the most of your Ministers maintain it and if they be wise will continue in that mind As for that Question Whether the King being deposed by the Pope may be lawfully killed Doctors of the Church hold the Affirmative not improbably and as it is not yet determined so if it should be concluded I will dy in the defence And now to say It were unlawful I will not to save my life His insolent speech was shortned by the Jurors quick return who found him guilty and had Sentence of Treason and to stop his rayling was after Noon the same day hanged at Glasgow He was a desperate second Ravilliack and ready in that devilish doctrine of deposing and disthroning Kings which he urged the more he said as consonant to the Kirk Ministers tenents And that nothing troubled him but to be taken away ere he had done that which all Scotland and England should not have prevented and had it been performed no torments would have been by him refused So then we see the cause of his Execution For the King professed Never to hang a Priest for his Religion The opening of the Spring gave opportunity to sundry families of England to prepare themselves for planting in America Upon no great incouragement of profit or pleasure by any former Voyages of the English into those parts but people and trade increasing here they would unburthen this State with forein adventures The Design was for New England a part of America in the Ocean Sea opposite to that part of America in the South Sea which Sir Francis Drake discovered in his voyage about the world and named it Nova Albion But he was never imployed thither as a Discoverer or Planter upon this part of America taking the coast from Cape Florida in twenty degrees North Latitude North-East-ward to Cape Brittain Between the Degrees of Latitude from 20. to 45. King Iames granted Letters Patents being about fifteen hundred miles but to follow it aboard near two thousand miles And all this Coast from Cape Florida of twenty Degrees to five and forty was first discovered by Iohn Cabot with six sail of ships who had his Patent from Henry 7. Anno 1442. about the time that Columbus discovered the middle part of America for Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain and is called the West-Indies The first Colony from England was with Sir Walter Ralegh assisted in company of Sir Ralph Lane and Thomas Heriot that learned Mathematician Anno 1584. who in honour of Queen Elizabeth named it Virginia leaving there sixteen men which were brought home by Sir Francis Drake in his return from his West-India Voyage a year after and this part is contained from Florida to the Chesiopech Bay The next Northward is a part of Land to which Sir Iohn Popham Lord Chief Justice sent for Discovery and Trade 1606. but no success returned and since it is called New England Then the Land adjoyning Northward was discovered by Captain Gosnold all that coast being studded with broken Lands and called by him Elizabeths Isles Then you come to Cape Cod
their view Chancells were so divided from the body of the Church and thereupon so called And the Lord Chancelour and Lord Keeper have one power by Stat. anno 5. Eliz. So then you see how and for what he hath his name And though his Authority be highest yet it is given to him by the Law and proceedeth in course of Law not according to conscience but Law That all Justice runs from the Supreme power so by the Chancelour to all Jurisdiction A man complains of wrong or sues for right in Chancery from which Bill of complaint issues a precept commanding the Defendent to appear at a Day So then a man may not be sued before he have a Writ or Breve from the Chancelour a singular regard to the meanest The very Writs of Chancerie are prescribed by Law and a form registred in Chancery and if not accordingly issued out the Judges will reject them called in Law Abating of the Writ His Authority to judge is of two sorts by common Law or Positive Law Potentia Ordinata Processe pleading judgement Potentia Absoluta by Processe according to the Law of Nature viz. to send for the party to answer upon Oath to examine if he will not answer yet the Chancelour cannot condemn him in the cause for obstinacy Potentia Ordinata mispleading on either part may mar the matter and the judgement must be according to Law however the Equity of the case fall out But if the pleading be by Absolute Power though the party misplead if the matter be good the Iudgement must be by equity and not as the pleading be either formal good or bad or as the law will in the case The Question followes whether that conscience whereby the Chancelour be simpliciter and to be simplex conscientia or Regulata Viz. To be ordered by course of Court former Presidents and if no Presidents whether Reason in codem respectu may take cognisance of the cause viz. A rich Father to suffer an honest son to beg or a rich son contrario the Chancelour cannot Hereupon we may conclude that his Authority judicial both Ordinata and Absoluta Potestas are limitted by the Law of the Land For in the Ordinary he is tyed to the strict rule of Law and by the Absolute he is ruled though not by the course of law yet he is to deal per regulatam conscientiam but in any case not to contradict what Law hath allowed But to conclude his Absoluta Potestas by what means he should find out truth Truly it is without limitation only to be referred to his own Gifts and the grace of God that gives Wisdom Sir Francis Bacon succeeded Elsemere Lord Chancelour though a wonder to some so mean a Man to so much preferment he was then Atturney General and as others by that placc and in the usual way of preferment time beyond memory come to high Office of Indicature either there or to other Benches and so did he But his Mis-deeds afterwards turned him out of all and he dyed poor and private See Anno 1621. And as his Genesis of preferment came to the chair of State so the Exodus of the Treasurer Suffolk in his Office brought him to the Star-Chamber and the Glory of the new Chancelour Chair-man there to sit in censure upon him and so to set out himself in his Matchless Eloquence which he did then by Sentence as the Mouth of the Court as all others had done Their abilities affording them several waies and manners in that Court more particular as their Qualities concern them to distinguish So here also the Chief Iustice Cook newly revived from the sad condition of former disgrace for his too narrow inquisition upon the faults and fall of Somerset He now finding the Fate of Court-policy final in this Lord and his malice at Liberty to speak what he list Parrallels this Lords Crimes with other such corrupt Treasurers raking Presidents of all former Predecessors Even from Randolphus de Britton who was sentenced to lose all lands and goods but was restored to him and fined 3000. 1. for misusing K. H. 3. Treasure Such another was Treasurer of Ireland Petrus de Rivallis and of great command also high Chamberlain of England to Edw. 1. his Offences were Bribes of all men poor and rich Religiosis quam de Laicis fined and ransomed So did the Abbot and Moncks at Westminster took out of that Kings Treasury there ad inestimabile Damnum Regis Regni For which these privileged pretenders could not be exempt from Tryal and the Temporalities of the Abby seized for satisfaction till which time of payment they suffered Imprisonment Nay Walter de Langton Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield scapes not Edw. 2. This Treasurer took bribes then though small but a hundred pound of the Earl of Monteallo ut amicus in agendis negotiis versus dominum Regem lets him escape Prison to do his buâ—inesse and given of free Will and ex curialitate sua yet in those dayes it amounted to Extortion But he had Additionalls having indicted Iohn de Eugam of Tresgass for the Mannor of Fisby to which the King had title and imprisoned him and when another Mannor was conveyed to the Bishop for Courtesies done diversas curialitates Eugam was set at liberty but it seems the Bishops plea would not serve his turn That the King would rather punish by Imprisonment than fine And those good times accounted it Bribery Again the Bayliff of Oxford was committed for arrears of one hundred pound in his accompt and the Mannor of Calcat conveyed to the Bishop for satisfaction yet because he was of pure Devotion discharged by the Bishop these cases all three were condemned of Extortion and Bribery and the Bishop soundly paid for it by his purse and imprisonment In Edw. 3. He imprisoned William Lord Latimer with punishment and fine being in Commission to pay off the Kings debts he compounded for eighty per centum and 30. for 40. by which saies the Record he turned it upon the King to be a Bankrupt Compounder So did the Baron Nevil bought the Kings debts of the Army and though he pleaded that they forgave him the Remainder freely yet was he fined Such like as these were brought Examples to raise the Offence of this Lord Treasurer of himself as of high birth so most Noble and without doubt disdaining to commit base crimes but whether the guilt of Sir Iohn Dingly one of the Tellers in Exchequer an intimate Servant to the Secrecies of Suffolks Countess or some necessity to make bold to borrow such sums as his Fabrick Awdle-End had need of Or the vain and monstrous expence heretofore of that family All that could be besides the necessity of Court-Fate cast in his dish was the imbezeling the monies lately paid by the States of the Netherlands for redemption of the cautionary Towns Flushing and Bril and he fined thirty thousand pounds and Dingly two thousand pounds the
such as will not be themselves but their wives and families shall be and they shall appear at Church sometimes inforced by Law or for fashion these are formal to the Law and false to God The second sort are Recusants whose consciences are misled and therefore refuse the Church otherwise peaceable subjects The third are practising Recusants they will force all persons under their power and infect others to be as they are Recusants these are men of Pride and Presumption His opinion can bear with the person of a Papist so born and bred but an apostate Papist hâ— hates such deserve severe punishment He is loth to hang a Priest for Religion and saying Mass but if he refuse the Oath of Allegiance which is meerly Civil he leaves them to the Law against whom it is no persecution but Iustice and the like against those Priests that return from banishment such also as break Prison they can be no Martyrs that refuse to suffer for their conscience Saint Paul would not go forth when the doors were open and Saint Peter came not out till led by the Angell of God Then he concludes with the Ordinary charge against the numbers of Alâ—-houses too frequent buildings in and about London and also the extreme resort of the Gentry to the City bids them countenance the religious Clergy against all Papists and Puritans and God and the King will reward their service Let us remind Scotland It was eight years since the Marquess of Hunâ—lâ—y had been excommunicate upon hopes from time to time of his conformity and reconcilement but increasing insolencies was lately committed and as soon inlarged by the Chancelour underhand favouring too much the Papists The Church complain hereof to the King the Marquess posts to England to palliate his displeasure but a Messenger meets him at Huntington with command to return him home to Justice Yet here he staies until he receives new authority to appear at Court where he humbly submits and offers to communicate But being contrary to the Canons before absolution a great debate followed how to hazard him to the Church of Scotland lest by the way he should recant and indeed the King evermore endeavouring to rectifie his conscience and to recover him to be a Proselyte The adventure was thus pieced the Bishop of Catnes now at Court must consent in the name of the Scots Kirk for the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury to absolve him and the Form new devised so to do in respect of the correspondency of that Church with England The Scotish Church hears of this and interprets that Act as an usurpation upon their Rites which the King is fain to excuse in a long Letter to satisfie that curiosity and lest he should seem to take upon him to palliate so great a presumption of himself onely The Arch-bishop also gave his Reasons in writing without intrenching upon the independencies of so free absolute and intire Authority of Scâ—tland And withall Huntley come home must supplicate that Assembly now convened at Aberdene for their confirmation and his submission which was solemnly performed And because it was about the end of the General Assembly we shall shut it up with inserting such Articles as may enlighten the Reader to the knowledg of the Kings elaborate care and wisdom in reducing perverse Jurisdiction to this moderate issue in conformity to the Discipline of the Church of England by which we may conclude the evident signs and hopes of a full recovery in time from their peevish Hierarchy which had been prosecuted in some measure from the very time that this King took Government to himself and brought it before his death to a semblable conformity with England and might so have prospered to perfection had not their and our sins since set a period to us both 1. That for more reverence of the holy Communion the same should be celebrated Kneeling which always had been standing 2. Not to be denied the Patient desperate sick in his Bed with three or four of religious conversation to communicate with him 3. The Sacrament of Baptism not to be longer deferred than the next Sunday after the Birth and in necessity in a private house by the Minister and publication thereof the next Sunday in the Church 4. That the inestimable benefits received from God by our Lord Jesus Christ his Birth Passion Resurrection Ascension and Sending down the Holy Ghost having been commendably remembred at certain days and times by the whole Church of the world every Minister upon these days should therefore commemorate the said benefits upon those set days and to make choice of several pertinent Texts of Scripture to frame his Doctrine and Exhortations thereto And because Confirmation after Baptism stuck in their stomachs and indeed the King was unsatisfied therein terming it a meer Hotch-potch and not clear to his apprehension But yet thus much was concluded That seeing the Act of Confirmation of Children is for their good Education most necessary being reduced to the primitive integrity the Minister shall catechize them after eight years old to rehearse the Lords Prayer the Belief and ten Commandments with Answers to Questions in the small Catechism used in the Church And that the Bishop in their Visitations shall bless them with Prayer for their increase of Grace and continuance of Gods heavenly gifts with them So much was done indeed and presented humbly to his Majesty with some Reasons why the same being novel to them were not as yet inserted with the Canons which the King did not then otherwise press as resolving to effect his desire at his coming personally into that Kingdom when his presence should satisfie with Reasons all scrupulous aversion About this time happened that difference in the Family of Sir Thomas Lake one of the Secretaries of State between his Wife and Daughter and the Countess of Exeter which involved him and his into ruine This Lake was a learned Gentleman brought up under Sir Fr Walsingham that subtil Secretary of State as Amanuensis to him And after good experience of his deserts was recommended to Queen Elizabeth and read to her French and Latine in which Tongues she would say that he surpassed her Secretaries and was so imployed all her time for he was reading as to quiet her spirits when the Countess of Warwick told him that the Queen was departed But not long before she received him Clerk of her Signet And he was chosen by this State in that Place to attend King Iames from Berwick And so sufficient he was that the King made use of his present service in some French dispatches by the way that he came hither which indeed Secretary Cecil had reason to resent as too much trenching on his Office And therefore craveed leave of the King that he might not attend beyond his Moneth to prejudice the other Clerks which was excused and he kept still at Court These sufficiencies of his enabled him in these times of gaining with much repute and
the Lawyers in the House to make a good Commentary upon it For so did the Puritan Ministers in Scotland bring all kind of Causes within compass of their jurisâ—iction saying that it was the Churches Office to judge of slander and there could no crime or fault be committed but there was a slander in it either against God their King or their Neighbour and by that means they looked into themselves the cognizance of all Causes or like Bellarmines Distinction of the Popes power over Kings in ordine ad spiritualia whereby he gives him all Temporall Jurisdiction over them But to give you a direct answer to the matters of War for which you are so earnest We confesse we rather expected you should have given us thanks for the so long maintaining a settled Peace in all our Dominions when as all our Neighbours about are in miserable combustion of War but dulce bellum inexpertis and we indeed find by experience that a number of our Subjects are so pampered with Peace as they are desirous of change though they know not what It is true that we have professed and in that mind with Gods grace we will both live and die that we will labour by all means possible either by Treaty or force to restore our Children to their antient dignity and Inheritance and whatsoever Christian Princes and Potentates will set themselves against it we will not spare any lawful means to bring ouâ— so just and honourable purpose to a good end Neither shall the Match of our Son or any other worldly respects be preferred to this our Resolution For by our credit and intervention with the King of Spain and the Arch-Dutchess and her Husband now with God we preserved the Lower Palatinate one whole year from any further conquering in it which in any eight dayes space in that time might have easily been swallowed up by Spinola's Army without any resistance and in no better case was it now at our Ambassadour the Lord Digby's coming through Heidleburgh if we had not extraordinarily succoured it But because we conceive that ye couple this War of the Palatinate with the cause of Religion we must a little unfold your eyes herein The beginning of this miserable War which hath set all Christendome on fire was not for Religion but only caused by Our Son in law his hasty and rash Resolution following evil Counsel to take to himself the Crown of Bohemia and that this is true himself wrote Letters to Us at that time desiring Us to give assurance both to the French King and to the State of Venice that his accepting of the Crown of Bohemia had no reference to the cause of Religion but only by reason of his right of Election as he called it And we would be sorry that that aspersion should come upon our Religion as to make it a good pretext for disthroning of Kings and usurping their Crowns And we would be loath that our people here should be taught that doctrine No let Us not so far wrong the Jesuits as to rob them of their sweet Positions and practice in this point And upon the other part we assure our selves so far of your charitable thoughts of us that we would never have constantly denyed our Son in Law both the title and assistance in that point if we had been well-perswaded of the justice of his quarrel But to conclude this unjust usurpation of the Crown of Bohemia and Hungaria from the Emperour hath given the Pope and all that party too fair a ground and opened them too wide a Gate for curbing and oppressing of many thousands of our Religion in divers parts of Christendom And whereas you excuse your touching upon the King of Spain upon occasion of the incidents by you repeated in that place and yet affirm it is without any touch to his Honor. We cannot wonder enough that ye are so forgetful both of your words and writs for in your former Petition you plainly affirm that he affects the Temporal Monarchy of the whole Earth then which there can be no more malice uttered against any great King to make all other Princes and Potentates both envy and hate him But if you list it may be easily tryed whether that speech touched him in honour or not if we shall ask him the question Whether he means to assume to himself that Title or no For every King can best judge of his own Honour we omit the particular Ejaculations of some foul-mouthed Oratours in the House against the honour of his Crown and State And touching your excuse of not determining any thing concerning the Match of our dearest Son but only to tell your opinion and lay it down at our feet First we desire to know how you could have presumed to determine in that point without committing of High Treason And next you cannot deny but your talking of his Match after that manner was a direct breach of our Commandment and Declaration out of our own Mouth at the first sitting down of this Parliament where we plainly professed that we were in Treaty of his Match with Spain and wished you to have that confidence in our Religion and Wisdom that we would so mannage it as our Religion should receivt no prejudice by it And the same we now repeat unto you professing that we are so far ingaged in that Match as we cannot in honour go back except the King of Spain perform not such things as we expect at his hands and therefore we are sorry that ye should shew to have so great distrust in us or to conceive that we should be cold in our Religion otherwise we cannot imagine how our former Publick Declaration should not have stopped your Mouths in this point And as to your Request that we would now receive your former Petition We wonder what could make you presume that we would not receive it whereas in our former letter we plainly declared the contrary unto you and therefore we have justly rejected that suit of yours For what have you left un-attempted in the highest points of Sovereignty in that petition of yours except the striking of Coin for it contains the violation of Leagues the particular way how to govern a War and the Mariage of our dearest Son both Negative with Spain nay with any Popish Princess and also Affirmatively as to the matching with one of our Religion which we confess is a strain beyond any Providence or Wisdom God hath given to us as things now stand These are unfit things to be handled in Parliament except your King should require it of you For who can have wisdome to judge of things of that nature but such as are dayly acquainted with the particulars of Treaties and of the variable or fixed connexion of Affairs of State together with the knowledge of the secret ways ends and intentions of Princes in their several Negotiations otherwise a small mistaking in matters of this Nature may produce more effects than can