was made a Privy Councillor in 1662. and in 1666. being joyned Admiral with the Duke of Albemarl first attackt the whole Dutch Fleet with his Squadron in such a bold resolute way that he put the enemy soon to flight He enjoyes a Pension from His Majesty of 4000 l. per annum After Prince Rupert the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland are three French Ladies Daughters of Prince Edward deceased who was a younger Son of the Queen of Bohemia whose Widdow the Princess Dowager Mother to the said three Ladies is Sister to the Late Queen of Poland Daughter and Coheir to the last Duke of Nevers in France amongst which three Daughters there is a Revenue of about 12000 l. sterling a year There was two Daughters of Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine who being unmarried are deceased The last is the Princess Sophia youngest Daughter to the Queen of Bohemia Born at the Hague 1630. and in 1659. wedded to John Duke of Lunenberg and free Prince of Germany Heir to the Dutchy of Brunswick by whom she hath Sons and Daughters she is said to be one of the most accomplisht Ladies in Europe Having this particular Account of all the nearest in Blood to the Crown of Scotland being the Issue of King James the Sixth and King Charles the First it will not be amiss to relate these that are descended of the Daughter of King James the Second since whom till the Queen of Bohemia no collateral branch sprung from the Royal Family of whom any Issue remains James Lord Hamilton was married to the Daughter of King James the Second and had Issue first James created Earl of Arran whose Son was the Duke of Chastelherault from whom by Two Sons are descended the Families of Hamilton and Abercorn and by Two Daughters the Families of Huntley and Lauderdale And by an Act of Parliament signed by all the Three Estates the Original whereof is yet extant in the Reign of Queen Mary The Duke of Chastelheraults Family is declared next the Queen and her Issue the Rightful Heir of the Crown The Sister of King James the Third bare likewise to the Lord Hamilton a Daughter married to the Earl of Lennox from whom descended the Family of Lennox There is no otther branch of the Royal Family since it was in the Line of the Stewarts except the Earl of Cassils his Family whose Ancestor the Lord Kennedy married King James the firsts Sister from which Marriage that Family is descended And so much of the Royal Family CHAP. V. Of the Chief Officers of State of the Court of Justice The Manner of Elections of the Members in Parliament and Riding of Parlialiament Of the Privy Council Of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer THE Government of the Kingdom being wholly in the Crown the King administers it by his officers of State and Privy Council The Officers of State are Eight The first is the Lord Chancellour who is Keeper of the Great Seal and President in all Courts where-ever he is This Office was in the Person of John Duke of Rothes lately deceased The Second Officer is the Lord High Treasurer who governs the Revenue and presides in the Exchequer This Office is now in Commission The Third Officer is the Lord Privy Seal who is at present John Duke of Athol These Three take place of all the Nobility The Fourth Officer is the Lord Secretary who keeps the Signet and is a Lord by his Office and takes place of all of his Rank The Office of Secretary is executed by the Right Honourable Alexander Earl of Murray The Fifth Officer is the Lord Clerk of Registers who has the charge of all the publick Records Rolls and Registers and Names of all the Clerks of Parliament and Session and the Keepers of Publick Registers This Office is executed by Sir Thomas Murray of Glendoick The Sixth Officer is the King's Advocate who is also called the Lord Advocate He is commonly a Judge except in cases in which the King is concerned and in these he pleads in the King's Name The present Lord Advocate is Sir George Mackenzie of Rose-haugh The Seventh Officer is the Lord Treasurer Deputy who is Assistant to the Lord High Treasurer and is a check upon him and presides in the Exchequer in his absence This Office is executed by Charles Maitland of Hatton The Eighth Officer is the Lord Justice Clerk who assists the Lord Justice General in Criminal Causes The present Justice Clerk is Rich. Maitland Esq All these have the Title of Lord and the Precedency of all under Noble men and their Eldest Sons Of the Courts of Justice The Chief and Supream Court of Justice is the High Court of Parliament which is made up of Three Estates The first is the Ecclesiastical that of Old consisted of Bishops and Miter'd Abbots but since the Reformation consists only of Arch-Bishops and Bishops The second Estate is the Nobility who were antiently divided into the greater Barons and the lesser for every man that holds Lands of the Crown with a priviledge of holding a Court much like the Lord of a Mannour in England is called a Baron and all were obliged to appear personally in Parliament Proxies never being allowed by the Law of Scotland and give the King Counsel This proved a very hard burden to the small Barons upon which they desired to be excused from their Attendance in Parliament And this was granted them as a favour in King James's the first Reign And though by that Act they might have sent two or three or more to represent them from every Shire yet they made no use of that for above 150 years But King James the Sixth to ballance the Nobility got them restored to that Right so that ever since there are two sent from every Shire who are Commissioners of the Shires The third Estate is the Burroughs every one of which chuseth one Commissioner or Burgess only the City of Edinburgh as the Metropolis chuseth two Elections of Members of Parliament The Parliament is summoned by Proclamation made at the Head Burrough of every Shire forty daies before they meet upon which the Shires and Burroughs meet about their Elections Every one that holdeth Lands of the Crown that in the Rolls of the Taxation the Antient Name of Subsidies and Assessments are valued at forty shillings Scottish Money of Taxation to the King which will be in real value about ten pounds sterling a year is an Electour or may be Elected so he be rightly vested in the Land or according to the Scottish terms infeoft and seized and be not at the King's Horn that is under an Outlawry The Electours subscribe the Commissions they give and so their Commissioner is returned and if there be Cross Elections the Parliament is only Judge In the Burroughs the Common Council of the Town makes the Election The Manner of the Riding of the Parliament When the day comes in which
material as will appear by his further perusal Kind Reader use me discreetly in your censures being it is the first undertaking and if kindly received may be an encouragement for me to serve you hereafter upon some other as necessary occasion Consider it may happen that your own Works may be published which likewise you would desire to be received with kind entertainment Quod â—ihi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris expecting your good construction of this will be the greatest encouragement I can have hereafter to be serviceable to you Farewel A. M. THE CONTENTS Chap. 1. Page 1. OF Scotland in general Of its Name Climate Dimensions Division Air Soil Commodities Moneys Measures Weights Buildings c. Chap. 2. Page 16. Of the Laws of Scotland Of Registers of Letters of Horning and Caption c. A List of all the Kings of Scotland to His present Majesty Of the Descent of the Crown What a Convention of Estates is The Prerogatives of the Crown Chap. 3. Page 37. Of Succession of the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland Chap. 4. Pag. 55. Of the present Princes and Princesses of the Blood Chap. 5. Page 72. Of the Chief Officers of State Of the Parliament The Manner of their Election Of the Riding of Parliament The Chusing the Lords of the Articles A List of all the present Nobility of Scotland Of the Privy Counsel with a List of the present Members thereof Of the Colledge of Justice Of the Justice Court of the Exchequer Chap. 6. Page 116. Of Inferiour Courts Of Sheriffdoms A List of the Shires of Scotland with the Names of the present Sheriffs Of Courts of Regalities Of a Barons Court Chap. 7. Page 127. Of the Burroughs of Scotland Of Burroughs Royal Burroughs of Regalities and Burroughs of Baronies Chap. 8. Page 135. Of the Court of Admiralty Of the Government of the Militia Chap. 9. Page 141. Of the Church Government Chap. 10. Page 182. Of Bishops Jurisdiction Of their Commissaries Of the Court of Session Of Presbyteries A List of all the Presbyteries of Scotland Of a Synod Of the General Assemblies Ch. 11 12 13 14. P. 196 c. Of the Vniversities of Scotland A List of all the Commissioners that have been in Scotland since King James the 6th 252 A Catalogue of the Chancellors of Scotland since the year 1198. 257 Writers of the Scottish History 260 Books Printed for Jonathan Wilkins Bookseller at the Star in Cheapside next Mercers-Chapel A Philosophick Discourse concerning Man being the Anatomy both of his Soul and Body wherein the Nature Origin Union Immateriality Immortality Extension and Faculties of the one and the Parts Humors Temperaments Complexions Functions Sexes and Ages respecting the other are concisely delivered by S. H. Student in Physick In 12. New and Curious Observations on the Art of Curing the Venereal Disease and the Accidents that it produces in all its Degrees Explicated by Natural and Mechanick Principles with the Motions Actions Effects of Mercury and its other Remedies wherein are discovered on the same Subject the Errours of some Authors and the most notorious Cheats of Ignorant Pretenders Written in French by Monsieur de Blegny Chyrurgion in Ordinary to the French Queen and Englished by Walter Harris Dr. of Physick lately Fellow of New Colledge in Oxford In 80. Miracles of Art and Nature Or a Brief Description of the several Varieties of Birds Beasts Fishes Plants and Fruits of other Countries With several other remarkable things in the World By R. B Gent. In 80. The Cities Exaltation by Uprightness A Sermon preached at Guild-Hall Chapel on Sunday June 6 1680. before the Right Honourable Sir Robert Clayton Lord Mayor of the City of London and the Court of Aldermen By John Rowley Rector of Hemmingford-Abbots in the County of Huntington Modesty Triumphing over Impudence Or some Notes upon a late Romance published by Elizabeth Cellier Midwife and Lady Errant Together with the Depositions of Richard Adams of Lincolns-Inn Esq against her before His Majesty and the Right Honourable the Lords of His Majesties Privy Council OF SCOTLAND In General CHAP. I. Of its Name Climate Dimension Division Air Soil Commodities Moneys Weights Measures and Buildings SCotland maketh the Northern Part of Great Brittain it hath on the East the German Ocean on the North the Deucalidon Sea the West is affronted with Ireland and is dividâ—d from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway and the Cheviot hills Name The name of Scots from which the Kingdom is called Scotland Originally is derived from Scota Daughter to Pharoah King of Aegypt The Ancient Histories of the Kingdom by unanimous consent give this account of the Inhabitants of this Island retaining that name unto this day Scota being given in Marriage to Gathelus Son of Cecrops King of Athens in consideration of the eminent service and assistance he perform'd in a War that Pharoah had against the Ethiopians to whose Valour and the Grecians that accompanied him the King imputed the Victory Gathelus deserving so weâ—â— the Kings Daughter was given to him in Marriage while Pharoah lâ—â—â—d Gaâ—helus was in esteem with the â—â—ople having encreased his reputaâ—â—â—â— as well â—â— hâ—s Lands shortly after Pharoah dying his Son of the same name who so cruelly tormented the Israelites with Taxes and Bondage having no regard to Gathelus or his Services began to use him inferiour to what might be expected Notwithstanding of this hard measure Gathelus willingly would have afforded this Pharoah his Service upon all occurrences but being warned of the Plagues that should happen to the Egyptians he made preparations to remove into some other Country which he intended to have been Numidia but being hinder'd to land there he set Sail passing thorow the Streights taking some valiant Grecians along with him he at last landed in a part of Spain then called Lusitania but by reason of his Arrivaâ— Port-gathell now Portangell This is said to be in the Year of the world 2453. After he had conquered this People he came to 〈◊〉 North of Spain where by reason of â—is abode there was a Colony of 〈◊〉 whom he named Scots from 〈…〉 Scota having two Sons Hiber and Himicus whom he sent to an Island which he heard was opposite to Spain on the North which afterwards had its name from Hiber being called Hibernia now Ireland the People of the Isle being easily conquer'd a great many Scots from Gallicia in Spain being the name of the Colony where Gathelus first setled were sent hither keeping their name still After sundry engagements with the Inhabitants the Scots in Ireland became the stronger and greater Party of these descended many Valianâ— and Noble Men who came with Fergusius the first King of Scotland to fight against the Picts who cruelly and barbarously at that time insulted over some Scots who landed in Albion being formerly of the Scots in Ireland Fergusius the first King of Scots in Albion now Scotland Son to Ferqu hard King of Ireland was Crown'd
hath not first nominated none can be consecrated Bishop or take possession of the Revenues of the Bishoprick without the King 's special Writ or Assent He is the nursing Father of the Church the King hath Power to call a National Synod and by his Commissioners to make constitutions relating to the Government and polity of the Church This National Synod was stiled the General Assembly which according to its Constitution and Authority setled in King James the sixths minority was made up of two Ministers Commissioners from every Presbytery and one lay Elder a Commissioner from every Royal Burrough one from every University one fâ—om the King These had the Supream Authority about aâ—l Church-matters How much trouble this Assembly General bred King James the sixth and the pretentions the Church made afterward the sad desolations of the Church of Scotland in these times do sufficiently bear witness A shadow of this still remains for the Supream Ecclesiastical Court is declared to be a National Synod made of Bishops and Deans and two Ministers from every Presbytery one of whom is of the Bishops nomination and a Commissioner from every University yet nothing is to be proposed but by the King or his Commissioner nor can any thing that they do be of force till it be ratified by the King but of this Synod their is no need being the King's Supremacy is so large it is evident that the King is over all Persons as well in Ecclesiasticks as Civil Supream From the King of Scotland there is no appeal in Ecclesiastical Affairs to the Bishop of Rome as it is in other principal Kingdoms of Europe There is no appeal in civil Affairs as in other Dominions of Christendom nor in either Ecclesiastical or Civâ—l to the Peopâ—e who in themselves oâ— by their Representatives in Parliament were ever subordinate to the King The King being the only Soveraign and Supream Head is furnish'd with plenary Power Prerogative and Jurisdiction to render Justice to every Member within his Dominions He may be properly call'd as all great Princes Gods Vice gerent being so much Majesty and Power is represented by him whereby the People have so much the higher esteem and more reverend awfulness of him for if that fails nothing can be expected but confusion impiety and calamity The Ancient Christians out of an high respect to their Christian Kings and Emperors used to attribute the Titles of God though imperfectly and analogically in them yet essentially and perfectly only in God and the good Christians of these times out of their excess of respect were wont to swear by the Majesty of the Emperour as Joseph once by the life of Pharoah some writers of that Age seem to justifie it as being done only to beget a respect in these times in the hearts of the People for their Kings The King is not subject to Death because he is a Corporation in himself that liveth for ever All Inter-Regna being unknown in Scotland the same moment that one King dies the next Heir is King fully and absolutely without any Coronation Ceremony or Act to be done The King is every where in all His Courts of Justice in all His Palaces therefore it is that all His Subjects stand bare in the Presence-Chamber wheresoever the Chair of State is placed though the King be many miles distant from thence By his Prerogative of pardoning whom the Law hath condemned the King is in a manner invested with Omnipotency by raising men from Death to Life Can create to the highest Dignity and annihilate the same at pleasure All punishments proceed from him in his Courts of Justice and it is not lawful for any Subject to revenge himself In consideration of these and other transcendent Excellencies no King in Christendom nor other Potentate receives from Hâ—s Subjects more Reverence Honour and Respect than the King of Scotland All His people at their first Addresses kneel to him all persons not the Prince nor the Heir apparent excepted stand bare in the presence of the King and in the Presence-Chamber though in the King's absence The King 's only Testimony of any thing done in his presence is of as high a nature and credit as any Record and in all Writs sent forth for dispatch he useth no other Witness but himself viz. Teste meipso CHAP. III. Of Succession and the next Heirs to the Crown of Scotland THE King of Scotland hath Right to the Crown by Inheritance and the Laws and Customs of the Kiâ—gdom upon the Death of the King the next of kindred though born out of the Dominions of Scotland or born of Parents not Subjects of Scotland is immediately King before any Proclamation Coronation publication or consent of Peers or people The Crown descends from Father to Son and his Heirs for want of Sons to the Eldest Daughter and her Heirs for want of Daughters to the Brother and his Heirs and for want of a Brother to the Sister and her Heirs The Salique Law or Custom of France hath here no more force than it had anciently among the Jews or in Spain and other Hereditary Kingdoms The Salique Law is of force only among the French Turks and Barbarians and hath been so of a long time At the Death of the King die not only the Offices of the Court but all Commissions granted to Judges In the King's Infancy a fit person of the Nobility is made choice of in Parliament who by nature or alliance hath most interest in the preservation of the Life and Authority of the Infant In Scotland the King being absent by His Majesties Commission the Lord High Commissioner to whom the King commits the grand and weighty Affairs of the Kingdom doth by Instructions from His Majesty regulate the Affairs and redresses the Grievances of the Kingdom Of the present King of Scotland The King now Reigning is Charles the Second of that name his name of Baptism Charles in the German Tongue signifies one of a masculine strength or virtue Surname His surname is Stuart which first by Office was given to Walter Father to Robert King of Scotland from whom our present King is descended he was grand Senescal or High Steward or Stuart of Scotland as bearing such an Office by a long and vulgar errour it hath so prevailed that it was accounted the surname of the Kings of Scotland and of many Families descended from them The Genealogy The King now Reigning is Son to King Charles the Martyr and the Princess Henrietta Maria Daughter of King Henry the Great of France from which two Royal Stocks he hath in his veins all the Royal 〈◊〉 of â—â—rope concentred he is descenâ—â—â—â—â—neally lawfully from Scotish Kings for almost 2000 years the King now Reigning the 109th so that for Royal Extraction and long line of just descent His Majesty now Reigning excels all the Monarchs of all the Christian if not of the whole world Birth He was born the 29th of May 1630. at the
with incomparable valour and extraordinary hazard of his own Royal Person after a most sharp Engagement he obtained a signal Victory over the whole Dutch Fleet commanded by Admiral Opdam who perisht with his own and many more Dutch Ships in that Fight He married Anne the Eldest Daughter of Edward Earl of Clarendon late Lord High Chancellour of England which Lady is deceased by whom he had a numerous Issue whereof are living first the Lady Mary now Princess of Orange Born April 30. 1662. whose Godfather was Prince Rupert and Godmothers the Dutchess of Buckingham and Ormond His Royal Highnesses other Daughter is the Lady Anne Born in Feb. 1664. whose Godfather was Gilbert then Lord Archbishop of Canterbury Her Godmothers were the young Lady Mary her Sister and the Dutchess of Monmouth This present Dutchess hath had several Children but are all dead Her Royal Highness is Daughter to the Duke of Modena in Italy The Titles of His Royal Highness are Duke of Albany and York Earl of Vlster Lord High Admiral of Scotland c. Of the Prince of Orange Next to the Duke of York and his Issue is William of Nassaw Prince of Orange only Issue of the deceased Princess Royal Mary Eldest Daughter to King Charles the First and wedded 1641. to William of Nassaw Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the States General both by Land and by Sea His Highness the present Prince was Born Nine daies after his Father's Death on the 14th day of November 1650. had for his Godfathers the Lords States General of Holland and Zealand and the Cities of Delph Leyden and Amsterdam His Governess was the Lady Stanhop then Wife to the Heer Van Hemvliet At Eight years of Age was sent to the University of Leyden His yearly Revenue is about 60000 l. sterling besides Military Advantages He is a valorous Prince and a great example of Valour and Courage besides a great lover of Souldiers Of the Princess Henrietra The next Heir after the fore named to the Crown of Scotland is the Princess Henrietta her Issue who we Born the 16th day of June 1664. at Exeter during the heat of the Late Rebellion After the surrender of Exeter conveyed to Oxford and thence 1646. to London whence with her Governess the Lady Dalkeith she escaped into France was there educated as became her high Birth and Quality but being left wholly to the care and maintenance of the Queen her Mother at Paris embraced the Romish Religion At the Age of sixteen was married to the only Brother of the French King the Illustrious Prince Philip then Duke of Aujou till the death of the Uncle and now Duke of Orleans whose Revenue is 1100000 Livers Tournois besides his Appanage Her Portion was 40000 l. sterl her Joynture to be the saâ—e with the Dutchess Dowager of Orleans This Princess had one Daughter who is now married to the King of Spain Of the Prince Elector Palatine There being left alive no more of the Off-spring of King Charles the First the next Heirs of the Crown of Scotland are the Issue and Descendants of Elizabeth late Queen of Bohemia only Sister to the said King who was married to Frederick Prince Palatine of the Rhine afterwards stiled King of Bohemia whose Eldest Son was Charles Lodowick Prince Elector Palatine of the Rhine commonly called the Palsegrave from the High Dutch Psaltzgraff Palatii comes was Born the 22d of Decemb. 1617. at Heydelberg and afterwards at the Age of three or four years conveyed thence into the Countries of Wittenberg and Brandenburg then into Holland and at the Hague and at the University of Leyden was educated in a Princely manner At the Age of Eighteen years came into England was created Knight of the Garter about two years after fought a Battel at Vlotta in Westphalia In the year 1637. passing incognito thorow France to take possession of Brisach upon the Rhine which the Duke of Saxon Weymar intended to deliver up unto him together with the Command of his Army he was by the quick-sighted Cardinal Richlieu discovered at Moulins and thence sent back Prisoner to the Bois de Vincennes where after twenty three weeks Imprisonment he was by the mediation of the King of Great Britain set at Liberty In the year 1643. he came again into England and with the King 's secret Consent because the King could not continue unto him the wonted Pension whilest the Rebels possest the greatest part of His Majesties Revenues made his Address to and abode with the disloyal part of the Lords and Commons at Westminster until the Murther of the said King and the Restauration of the Lower Palatinate according to the famous Treaty of Munster for which he was constrained to quit all his Right to the upper Palatinate and accept of an Eighth Electorship at a juncture of Time when the King of Great Britain had he not been engaged at home by an impious Rebellion had been the most considerable of all others at that Treaty and this Prince his Nephew would have had the greatest Advantages there In the year 1650. he espoused the Lady Charlotte at Cassele Daughter to the Landgrave of Hessen he had one Son named Charles who is now present Prince Palatine of the Rhine a hopeful and magnanimous Prince He had likewise one Daughter named Charlotte This being all the Issue he left behind him Of Prince Rupert Next to the Issue of the Prince Elector Palatine is Prince Rupert Born at Prague the 17th of December 1619. not long before that very unfortunate Battel there fought whereby not only all Bohemia was lost but the Palatine Family was for almost thirty years dispossest of all their possessions in Germany At Thirteen years of Age he marcht with the then Prince of Orange to the Siege of Rhineberg afterwards in England was created Knight of the Garter At the Age of Eighteen he Commanded a Regiment of Horse in the German Wars and in the Battel of Vlotta 1638. being taken by the Imperialists under the Command of Count Hatzfield he continued a Prisoner above three years In 1642. returning into England made General of the Horse to the King 's Fights and Defeats Collonel Sands near Worcester Routed the Rebels Horse at Edge-Hill took Cirencester raised the Siege of Newark recovered Lichfield and Bristol raised the long Siege before Latham-house fought the Battel at Marston-Moor was created Earl of Holderness and Duke of Cumberland after the extinction of the Male-line of the Cliffords 1643. Finally The King's Forces at Land being totally defeated he transported himself into France and was afterwards made Admiral of such Ships of War as submitted to King Charles the Second to whom after several disasters at Sea and wonderful preservations he returned to Paris 1652. where and in Germany sometimes at the Emperour's Court and sometimes at Heydelberg he passed his time in Princely Studies and Exercises till the Restauration of His Majesty now Reigning after which returning into England
Campo-bello or Campbell Turgot Prior of Durham and B. of St. Andrews wrote the Lives of King Malcolm Canmoir and of his Queen Margaret Liber Sconae a Chronicle written by the Monks of Scoone Liber Pasletensis The Black Book of Paislay a Chronicle written by the Monks of Paislay Liber Pluscartensis a Chronicle written by the Monks of Pluscardy One Blind Henry wrote the History of Sir William Wallace in Scottish Meeter John Barbour Archdeacon of Aberdeen did write the Life of King Robert Bruce in Scottish Meeter John Major Provost of St. Salvator's Colledge in St. Andrews wrote the History of the Nation William Elphinstone B. of Aberdeen wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Antiquities Hector Boeth or Boyes Principal of the King's Colledge of Aberdeen wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the First continued till the Reign of King James the Sixth by John Ferrerius a Piemontoise a Monk of Pluscardy John Balenden Archdeacon of Murray did translate Boyes History into English George Buchanan Praeceptor to King James the Sixth wrote the History of the Nation till the year 1572. Robert Johnstone wrote a Continuation of the Scottish History from the year 1572. till the year 1624. in Latine Folio John Leslie Bishop of Ross wrote the History of the Nation till the year 138 Raphael Holinshed wrote the History of the Nation till the Reign of King James the Sixth continued by Francis Thin Will. Cambden wrote a Description of the Kingdom John Dempster wrote an Introduction to the Scottish History David Chalmer wrote a Treatise of the Scottish Saints David Hume of Godscroft did write the History of the Earls of Douglass and Angus William Drummond of Hawthornden did write the Lives of the Five King James's William Sanderson wrote the Lives of Queen Mary King James the Sixth and King Charles the First John Spotiswood Archbishop of St. Andrews did write the History of the Church of Scotland from the first Plantation of the Christian Faith therein till the Death of King James the Sixth The Office of the Chancellor of State conferred upon him by that glorious Martyr King Charles the First he discharged to the satisfaction of his Royal Master and the advantage of the Church He was a person of rare Ornaments and in all things compleatly qualified for his Imployment yet he did not escape the hard measure which other Loyal Subjects tasted of for by the Covenanters he was forced to retire into England where he met with entertainment more suitable to his worth He ended his daies in a good old Age and was honourably Interred in Westminster Abby Anno 1639. after he had governed the See twenty four years George Wishart Dr. of Divinity and Bishop of Edinburgh did write the Actions of James Marquess of Montross Robert Gordon of Stralogh did write the Theatrum Scotiae being a description of the whole Kingdom with the Maps of every particular Country Printed by Janson Bleaw at Amsterdam a very excellent work The mercenary Printer did him a double injury first in printing with his Book Buchanan's Seditious Pamphlet De Jure Regni apud Scotos it being sufficiently known that the Author was of no such principle but alwaies Loyal Then in dedicating that work to the Usurper O. Cromwell whereas the Author sent over to the Printer a Dedication of his Book to His most Sacred Majesty at that time Prince of Wales and the Copy of that Dedication written with his own hand is yet in the Custody of his Son the Reverend James Gordon Parson of Rothimay This much was necessary to be said in vindication of that worthy Gentleman who was one of the most Learned persons of the Age he lived in If any think that this Treatise hath not swelled to that bulk that might be expected from an undertaking of this nature having so large a Subject to treat of let this suffice for an Answer that the several calamities that have happened in this Antient Kingdom may justly serve for an Apology when it is to be considered that after the Death of Alexander the Third of that Name King of Scotland and all his Sons which in one years space died of a pestilent Fever which was never before known in this Kingdom his Daughter being Queen of Norway died in the same year who left behind her a Daughter whom after the Death of the King and his Sons the Estates sent for to this effect Two Ambassadors were dispatcht to Norway to take care of the safe conveyance of this Young Lady the only hope the Kingdom relyed on It was not long after these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing News that this Lady was dead likewise Consider what fears and sorrows at the hearing of these News did perplex the Subjects of this Kingdom So many deaths falling out in the Royal Family did presage great calamities to ensue For as the Loss of so worthy a King was great so their Fears was no less because of the uncertainty of the Succession Many Competitors six they were in number claiming the Inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship It must needs be supposed that they did divide the Realm and so beget a Civil War yet these who were trusted with the management of Affairs during the Inter Reign did by their Mediation work them to a Compromise and to remit the decision of the Controversie to King Edward the First of England a Prince of long Experience and much respected in that time For this purpose divers Gentlemen were sent to King Edward who at that time was in France to inform him of the inconveniencies that were feared to fall out in the Kingdom of Scotland and the course they had taken to prevent the same intreating his help for quieting the State King Edward glad to have an hand in the making of a King in Scotland dimitted them with many kind expressions of his kindness to the Kingdom assigning a Dyet for the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed at which Dyet the King was present at this meeting there was no decision all the Competitors except two to wit John Baliol and Robert Bruce were ordered to cease from their claim Of Baliol and Bruce an Oath was taken that they should abide and stand by the Sentence the King should pronounce The like Oath was taken by the Prelates Nobles and other Commissioners who swore to accept of him for their King that would be tryed to have the best Right and for the greater assurance all their Seals were appended to the Compromise Five years and some more were spent before the Controversie was brought to an end At last K. Edw. returned to Berwick and calling the Twenty Four to whom the important Affairs were committed they were shut up in the Church there to debate the Matter none being permitted to have access unto them he himself now and then went in to know how their proceedings went and perceiving the greater part