threefold Officiars in the Church to wit Ministers or Preachers Elders or Governours and Deacons or Distributers and all these may be called by one general word Ministers of the Church 4. For albeit the Church of God be ruled and governed by Iesus Christ who is the onely King high Priest and Head thereof yet he useth the ministery of men as a necessary middes for this purpose 5. For so he hath from time to time before the Law under the Law and in the time of the Evangel for our great comfort raised up men indowed with the gifts of his Spirit for the spiritual government of his Church exercising by them his power through his Spirit and Word to the building of the same 6. And to take away all occasion of Tyranny he wills that they should rule with mutual consent of brethren and equality of power every one according to their functions 7. In the New Testament and time of the Evangel he hath used the Ministery of the Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastors and Doctors in administration of the Word The eldership for good order and administration of discipline The Deaconship to have the care of Ecclesiastical goods 8. Some of these Ecclesiastical functions are ordinary some extraordinary or temporal the extraordinary are the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists which are not perpetual and now have ceased in the Church except when it pleases God extraordinarily for a time to stirre up some of them again 9. There are four ordinary offices or functions in the Church of God the Pastor Minister or Bishop the Doctor the Presbyter or Elder and the Deacon 10. These Offices are ordinary and ought to continue perpetually in the Church as necessary for the government and policy of the same and no mo offices ought to be received or suffered in the true Church of God established by his Word 11. Therefore all the ambitious titles invented in the Kingdom of Antichrist and his usurped Hierarchy which are not one of those four sorts together with the offices depending thereupon ought in one word to be rejected CHAP. 3. How the persons that bear Ecclesiastical functions are admitted to their Offices FIrst Vocation or Calling is common to all that should bear office in the Church which is a lawful way by which qualified persons are promoved to any special office in the Church of God 2. Without this calling it was never lawful for any person to meddle with any Ecclesiastical function 3. There are two sorts of Calling one extraordinary by God immediately as were the Apostles and Prophets which within a Church already well established hath no place 4. The other calling is ordinary which beside the calling of God and the inward testimony of a good conscience hath the lawful approbation of men according to Gods word and the order established in the Church 5. None ought to presume to enter in any office Ecclesiastical unlesse he have a good testimony in his conscience before God who onely knoweth the hearts of men 6. This ordinary and outward calling hath two parts Election and Ordination 7. Election is the choosing out of one man or person to the office that is voyd by the judgement of the Eldership and consent of the congregation to whom the person presented is to be appointed 8. The qualities in general required in all them who should have charge in the Church consist in soundnesse of Religion and godlinesse of life according as they are set forth in the Word 9. In this ordinary election it is to be eschewed that no person be intruded in any of the offices of the Church contrary to the will of the congregation to whom they are appointed or without the voice of the Eldership 10. None ought to be intruded or placed in the ministery in places already planted or in any room that is not void for any wordly respect and that which is called the benefice ought to be nothing but the stipend of the Minister who is lawfully called 11. Ordination is the separation and sanctifying of the person appointed by God and his Church after that he is well tried and found qualified 12. The ceremonies of Ordination are fasting prayer and imposition of hands of the Eldership 13 All these as they must be raised up by God and made able for the work whereunto they are called so they ought know that their message is limited within Gods word 14. These should take the names and titles only lest they be exalted and pussed up in themselves which the Scripture gives them as these which import labour travel and work and are names of offices and service and not of idlenesse dignity worldly honour or preheminence which by Christ our Master is expressely reproved and forbidden 15. All these office bearers should have their own particular flocks amongst whom they ought to exerce their charge and should make residence with them taking inspection and oversight of them every one in his vocation 16. And generally ought to respect two things that is the glory of God and edifying of his Church by discharging their duties in their callings CHAP. 4. Of the Office-bearers in particular and first of the Pastors and Ministers 1. PAstors Bishops or Ministers are they who are appointed to particular congregations which they rule by the word of God and over which they watch in respect whereof sometime they are called Pastors because they feed their congregation sometime Episcopi or Bishops because they watch over their flock sometime Ministers by reason of their service and office sometime also Presbyters or Seniors for the gravity in manners which they ought to have taking care of the spiritual government which ought to be most dear unto them 2. They that are called the Ministery or offer themselves thereto ought not to be elected without one certain flock to be assigned to them 3. No man ought to ingyre himself or usurp this office without a lawful calling 4. They who are once called of God and duly elected by men having once accepted the charge of the Ministery may not leave their functions and the desertors ought to be admonished and in case of disobedience excommunicated 5. No Pastor may leave his flock without licence of the Provincial Assembly which if he do after admonition not obeyed let the censures of the Church strike upon him 6. To the Pastor belongeth the preaching of the word of God in season and out of season publickly and privately always to edify and discharge his conscience as God hath prescribed And unto them only appertains the ministration of the Sacraments for both these are appointed by the word of God as means to teach us the one by the ear and the other by the eys and other senses that by both knowledge may be conveighed to the mind 7. By the same reason it pertains to
good words praying them to use no violence and saying that she meant no ill to their Preachers that she would hear the controversie betwixt the Bishops and them and that the present Diet with the Proclamation given out should be discharged so the force ceased and all was quiet for that time Not long after there arrived a messenger from the French King with letters to the Nobility desiring that the marriage should be consummated betwixt the young Queen and the Daulphin his son and that certain Commissioners should be sent to assist the solemnity A convention of Estates being called to this purpose in December following choice was made of eight persons to go in that journey for the spiritual Estate were named Iames Beaton Archbishop of Glasgow and Iames Stewart Prior of S. Andrews base brother to the young Queen For the Nobility Gilbert Kennedy Earl of Cassils George Lesley Earle of Rothes and Iames Lord Fleming For the Burrowes George Lord Seaton Provost of Edinburgh and Iohn Areskin of Dun Provost of Montrosse The great dysasters that happened both in their going and returning brought many to think the marriage would not prove happy and prosperous For having shipped at Leith in the moneth of February they were dispersed by a mighty tempest and one of their vessels that carried their horses cast away at S. Ebbes head before they left the Scottish shore another wherein the Earl of Rothes and Bishop of Orkney sailed with all the furniture for the marriage which was very rich and costly perished upon the coast of France nigh unto Bulloign the Earl and Bishop hardly escaping by the shipboat which carried them to land Neither had they any better fortune in their return homewards for at Deep divers of the chief persons fell sick and died The Bishop of Orkney a man of singular wisdome and experience who in his time had performed many honourable ambassages to the credit and benefit of his countrey ended there his life the 14. of September 1558. the Earl of Rothes died two-dayes after him and the Earl of Cassils Thesaurer of the Realm a vertuous Nobleman went the same way The Lord Fleming a brave young Nobleman returned to Paris suspecting some contagion and deceased in December following These deaths falling out so suddainly together bred a suspicion in many that they were made away by poison which was the rather believed because the French King was known to be displeased for their refuse of the matrimonial Crown to his son however it was the apprehension taken therefore begate a great hatred of the French amongst the people of this Realme In the moneth of April Walter Mill an old decrepit Priest having ceased from saying of Masse became suspected and was upon the same apprehended in Dysert by Sir George Strachen and Sir Hugh Torry two of the Archbishops of S. Andews Priests he was kept in the Castle and earnestly laboured to recant and acknowledge his errors but continuing firm and constant in his opinions his trial at last made and he accused in presence of the Bishops of S. Andrews Murray Brichen Cathnes and Athens the Abbots of Dunfermlin Lundors Balmerinoth and Couper Dean Iohn Winrame Sub-prior Iohn Grison a black Frier Mr. William Cranston Provost of the old Colledge and divers other Doctors of the University When he came into the Church and was led to the place where they had appointed him to stand he looked so feeble partly by age and travel partly by ill entertainment as it was feared none should hear what he answered Yet how soon he began to speak he delivered his mind with such quicknesse and courage as amazed his very enemies Sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Archbishops Priests commanded him to arise for he was upon his knees and answer to the Articles said Sir Walter Mill get up and answer for you keep my Lord here too long he notthelesse continued in his devotion and that done he arose and said he ought to obey God more then man I serve a mightier Lord then your Lord is And where you call me Sir Walter they call me Walter and not Sir Walter I have been too long one of the Popes Knights now say what you have to say Oliphant then began with this question What thinkest thou of Priests marriage He answered I esteem it a blessed bond ordained by God approved by Christ and made free to all sorts of men but you abhorre it and in the mean time take other mens wives and daughters you vow chastity and keep it not Oliphant proceeding said Thou sayest that there is not seven Sacraments He answered Give me the Lords Supper and Baptisme and take you the rest and part them amongst you Oliphant Thou sayest that the Masse is idolatry He answered A Lord sendeth and calleth many to his dinner and when it is ready ringeth the Bell and they come into the Hall but he turning his back upon the guests eateth all himself giving them no part and so do you Oliph Thou deniest the Sacrament of the Altar to be the body of Christ really in flesh and blood He answered The Scripture is not be taken carnally but spiritually and your Masse is wrong for Christ was once offered on the Crosse for mans sin and will never be offered again for then he put end to all sacrifices Oliph Thou deniest the office of the Bishop He answered I affirm they whom you call Bishops do not Bishops works nor use the Offices of Bishops but live after their own sensual pleasures taking no care for the flock nor yet regarding the word of God Oliph Thou speakest against pilgrimage and callest it a pilgrimage to whoredome He answered I say that pilgrimage is not commanded in the Scripture and that there is no greater whoredome in any place then at your pilgrimages except it be in the common brothels Oliph Thou preachest privately in houses and sometimes in the fields He answered Yea man and upon the sea too when I am sailing Oliph If thou wilt not recant thy opinions I will pronounce sentence against thee He answered I know I must die once therefore as Christ said to Judas Quod facis fac citò you shall know that I will not recant the truth for I am corn and no chaffe I will neither be blowne away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but will abide both These answers he gave with a great boldnesse to the admiration of all that were present Then did Oliphant pronounce sentence ordaining him to be delivered to the temporal Judge and burnt as an heretick but because no man could be found to supply the place of a Judge for Patrick Lermond Bailiffe of the Regalty did absolutely refuse nor in the whole City so much as a cord to be had for money to tye him after he should be condemned his life for one day was prolonged The next morning one of the Archbishops domesticks called Alexander Somervaile a wicked and
in the reformed Church 5. The Churches also which are united and joyned together by annexation to Benefices ought to be separated and divided and given to qualified Ministers as Gods word requires neither ought such abusers of the Patrimony of the Church have voice in Parliament nor sit in Councel in name of the Church and Church-men to the hurt and prejudice of the liberty thereof and lawes of the Realm made in favours of the Reformed Church 6. Much lesse is it lawful that one person amongst these should have five or six ten or twenty Churches all having the cure of soules and enjoy the Patrimony thereof either by admission of the Prince or of the Church in this light of the Gospel for it is but mockery to crave reformation where the like have place 7. And albeit it was thought good for avoyding greater inconveniences that the old possessors of such benefices who imbraced the Religion should enjoy by permission the two parts of the rents which they possessed before during their life time yet it is not tolerable to continue in the like abuse to give these places and other benefices of new to men as unmeet or rather unmeeter who have no mind to serve in the Church but live an idle life as others did who enjoyed the same in time of blindnesse 8. And whereas by the order taken at Leith 1571. it appears that such may be admitted being found qualified either that pretended order is against all good order or else it must be understood not of them that are qualified for worldly affairs or to serve in Court but such as are qualified to teach Gods word and have their lawful admission of the Church 9. As to Bishops if the name be properly taken it is all one with the name of Minister as was declared for it is not the name of superiority or Lordship but of office and watching Yet because in the corruption of the Church this name hath been abused and is like to be we cannot allow this fashion of these new chosen Bishops nor of the Chaptors that are their electors to such in office 10. True Bishops should addict themselves to one particular flock which divers of them refuse neither should they usurp Lordship over their brethren and the inheritance of Christ. 11 12. Pastors in so farre as they Pastors have not the visitation of mo Churches joyned to the Pastorship unlesse it be committed to them 12. It is a corruption that Bishops should have further bounds to visit then they may conveniently overtake neither ought any man to have the visitation of Churches but he that is chosen by the Presbytery 13. The Elderships well established have power to send out Visitors with Commission to visit the bounds within their Eldership and after accompt taken be either continued or changed from time to time being subject alwayes to their Elderships 14. The criminal jurisdiction in the person of a Pastor is a corruption 15. It agrees not with the word of God that Bishops should be Pastors of Pastors or Pastors of many flocks and yet be without a certain flock and no ordinary teacher nor doth it agree with the Scripture that they should be exeemed from the correction of their brethren and the discipline of the particular elderships of the Church where they shall serve neither that they usurp the office of visitation of other Churches nor any other function besides that of other Ministers unlesse the same be committed to them by the Church 16. Heretofore we desire the Bishops that now are either to agree to that order which Gods word requires and not to passe the bounds prescrived by the general Church either in Civil or Ecclesiastical affairs or to be deposed from all function in the Church 17. We ceny not in the mean time that Ministers may and should assist their Princes when they are required in all things agreeable to the word of God whether it be in Councel or Parliament or out of Councel providing alwayes they neither neglect their own charges nor through flattery of Princes hurt the publick estate of the Church 18. But generally we say that no Pastor under whatsoever title of the Church and specially the abused titles in Popery of Prelates Chaptors and Convents ought to attempt any thing in the Churches name either in Parliament or out of Councel without the Commission of the Reformed Church within this Realm 19. It is provided by Act of Parliament that the Papistical Church and jurisdiction shall have no place within the Realm and that no Bishop nor Prelate should use any jurisdiction in time coming flowing from the Popes authority And likewise that no other Ecclesiastical jurisdiction should be acknowledged within this Realm but that which is and shall be in the Reformed Church and flowing from the same And such we esteem the Chaptors holden in Papistical manner either of Cathedral Churches Abbeys Colledges or other conventual places usurping the name and authority of the Church to hurt the Patrimony thereof or use any other Act to the prejudice â—of the same since the year 1560. by abusion and corruption contrary to the liberty of the Church and lawes of the Realm which therefore ought to be annulled reduced and in time coming utterly discharged 20. The dependences also of the Papistical jurisdiction are to be abolished of which sort is the mingled jurisdiction of the Commissars in so far as they meddle with Ecclesiastical matters have no Commission of the Church thereto but were elected in time of our Soveraigns mother when things were out of order It is an absurd thing that divers of them having no function in the Church should be Judges in deposing Ministers from their places Wherefore they would be either discharged to meddle with Ecclesiastical matters or it would be limited to them in what matters they might judge and not hurt the liberty of the Church 31. They also that before were of the Ecclesiastical estate in the Popes Church or that are admitted of new to the Papistical titles and now tolerated by the laws of the Realm to possesse the two parts of their Ecclesiastical rents ought not to have any further liberty but to intromet with the portion granted and assigned unto them for their life times and not under the abused titles which they carry to dispone the Church rents setting in fewes and leases the same at their pleasure to the great hurt of the poor labourers that dwell upon the Church lands and the prejudice of the Church contrary to good conscience and all order CHAP. 12. Special heads craved to be reformed 1. WHatsoever hath been spoken of Church offices the several power of office-bearers their conjunct powers and last of the Patrimony of the Church we understand it to be the right reformation which God requires but because something would be touched in particular concerning the estate
knoweth it to be I should therefore advise your King to hearken to her Majesties counsel who carrieth to him a true motherly affection and make more accompt of her then of his French Cousen who is subject to the French King matched with a French woman addicted wholly to that faction and what profession soever he maketh a Papist in Religion The Hamiltons saith he being now exiled he hopeth to be designed successor and heir to the Crown but let your King know that ambition hath no limits and that the troubles which the French made in Scotland are not yet forgotten which would have perilled the liberty of that Kingdome if the Queen by her prudence and power had not prevented the same The Gentleman professing his thankfulnesse for her Majesties good opinion of him answered That if he should be permitted to speak with the Queen he would satisfy her Majesty in that point which concerned her Ambassadour And for the King his Master albeit he was young and of few years yet God had given him great wisdom and understanding and that he would never willingly do the thing that might displease the Queen nor hearken to any that should otherwise advise him for he knew her Majesties good affection and would not forget the care she had of him in his tender age That he could not be justly blamed for favouring his Cousen but as the Nobleman he believed would never advise the King his Master to any that might prejudice the amity with England so he was perswaded that his credit did not extend so farre as to make any publick breach with the Queen But there are more dangerous plots in hand saith the Thesaurer then your King is wary of and it is no wisdome to put too much confidence in any one person Alwayes time will discover the truth of every thing at the present you must have patience for the Queen will not see you Thus was he dimitted Upon his return and report of the conference he had with the Thesaurer the King was easily made to believe that all proceeded from the Earl of Morton and his intelligence in the Court of England which by one way or other was held needful to be stopt After some consultation taken about this it was resolved to charge him with the murther of the Kings Father for a rumour had gone in former times that he was conscious and privy unto it Captain Iames Stewart a man eager to win credit by what means soever takes the matter in hand and coming one day as the King was sitting in Councel at Halirudhouse desired to be heard being admitted he fell upon his knees and directing his speech to the King he said Out of the duty I owe to your Majesty I am come hither to reveal a wickednesse that hath been long obscured The Earl of Morton who sitteth there in a place unseemly for him was one of those that conspired your Fathers death and how dangerous it is to your Majesties person that he should be so near unto you let the Noblemen here present consider for me I shall make good what I speak only let him be committed and put to trial The Earl rising up with a disdainful smile answered By whose instigation this Gentleman cometh to accuse me I know not and I wonder what grounds he buildeth upon in charging me with this crime for none that ever suffered for it did touch me therewith and it is known what diligence and severity I used against those that were suspected of that murther If I pleased I could many wayes decline this challenge but my innocency is such as I fear not the most rigorous trial Sir with this he turned himself to the King and said do in it as you please either here or before any other Iudge I shall be ready to answer and when my innocency is cleared your Majesty will think what the malice of those that have set on this man to accuse me deserveth Captain Iames Stewart sitting all this time on his knees replied that by no mans instigation nor out of any private grudge of his own did he intend this accusation but his detestation of the fact and the love of his Majesties safety and honour had only incited him thereto For that he speaks of his diligence and severity let me but aske him said he how and why he did preferre Mr. Archibald Douglas his Cousen to the place of a Senator in the Colledge of Iustice who was known to have been an actor in that murther if he himself had no part in it As the Earl was about to answer the King commanded the Captain to go forth and the Earl being likewise removed after a short deliberation taken with the Councel he was committed in a chamber of the Palace where he abode two nights The third day he was conveyed to the Castle with a company of his own friends who did earnestly move him to make an escape But he chiding them with great bitternesse said That he had rather die ten thousand deaths then betray his innocency in declining triall After some few dayes he was removed to Dumbritton Castle that he might be further from his friends and kept from all intelligence with them The King had sent privily to apprehend Mr. Archibald Douglas who dwelt then at Norham but he having notice of the Earls committing fled into England In the Iuly preceding the Assembly of the Church had convened at Dundy where it was concluded That the office of a Bishop as it was then used and commonly taken within the Realm had neither foundation ground nor warrant in the word of God and thereupon an Ordinance was made that all persons either called to the said office or that should be called thereto at any time thereafter should be charged to dimit and forsake the same as an office whereunto they are not called of God As also to desist and cease from preaching ministring the Sacraments or using in any sort the office of a Pastor till they should be admitted of new of the general Assembly under the pain of excommunication In the end of the Act it was directed That concerning the patrimony of the Church possessed by the Bishops the next Assembly should reason and advise upon the disponing thereof Whether the folly or iniquity of this Ordinance was greater it can hardly be said for granting that the office of a Bishop had been as they judged unlawful there was no reason to discharge them of using the ministerial office till they should be received of new And what a foolish thing was it to think that the Prince and Estates would permit the rents of the Bishops to be disponed at their appetites They saw what was done with the other Prelaces and how the Abbots and Priors were no sooner declared to be no office-bearers in the Church but presently they turned temporal Lords and carried the rents with them quite away from the Church
would not long bear out and fearing to lose the Kings favour altogether he imployed some friends to make offer of satisfaction to the Duke and in end things were so composed as Arran did quit the commandment of the Guard and the charge thereof was given to the Duke To return to the matters of the Church there was a general Synod this year kept at Glasgow in the moneth of April wherein the question of Bishops was again agitated and because of the scruples which some brethren had at the Act concluded in Dundy the year preceding especially where it was said that the office of a Bishop had no warrant of the word of God the Assembly declared that their meaning was to condemn the estate of Bishops as they were then in Scotland A number of the more wise and moderate sort interceded that the conclusion of that matter might be for a time deferred because of the inconveniences it would draw upon the Church but they were cried down by the multitude Amongst others one Mr. Robert Montgomery Minister at Striveling was so servent in the cause as he would have the Assembly censure those that had spoken in defence of that corrupted estate Yet before the end of that year this zealous man did suffer himself to be more pitifully corrupted the story whereof shall now be related The See of Glasgow being then voyd it was suggested to the Duke of Lennox by some flatterers that he had a fair occasion presented to make himself Lord of that City and of the lands pertaining to that See if he should only procure a gift thereof to some one that would make a disposition of the same to him and his heirs The offer was made to divers who refused all because of the condition required At last the agents in that businesse fell upon this Montgomery who was content to accept it A gift was thereupon formed and a Bond given by him That how soon he was admitted Bishop he should dispone the Lands Lordships and whatsoever belongeth to that Prelacy to the Duke and his heirs for the yearly paiment of one thousand pounds Scots with some horse-corn and poultry A vile bargain it was for which justly he ought to have been repulsed But the Church passing this point made quarrel to him for accepting the Bishoprick which the King would not acknowledge to be a reason sufficient If they could charge him with any fault in doctrine or life he was content they should keep their order but to challenge him for accepting the Bishoprick he would not permit the same having lately ratified the Acts agreed upon at Leth Anno 1571. touching the admission of Bishops and ordained the same to stand in force untill his perfect age or till a change was made thereof in Parliament This related to the Church they did appoint Montgomehy his life and doctrine to be inquired upon if possibly they could find any matter against him which done an accusation was framed and he cited to answer in the next Assembly The Articles laid to his charge were these 1. That he preaching at Striveling had proponed a question touching the circumcision of women and affirmed they were circumcised in the skin of their forehead 2. That teaching in Glasgow he should say the discipline was a thing indifferent and might stand this or that way 3. That he called the Ministers captious and men of curious braines 4. That he laboured to bring the Original languages in contempt abusing the words of the Apostle in the 1. Cor. 14. and jeastingly asked In what School were Peter and Paul graduated 5. That to prove the lawfulnesse of Bishops in the Church he had used the examples of Ambrose and Augustine 6. That in his doctrine he said it was sufficient to baptize in the name of the Father onely or in the name of the Sonne or in the name of the holy Ghost seeing they are all one God and to that effect alleadged the nineteenth of the Acts. 7. That he should have called matters of discipline and the lawful calling of the Church trifles of policy 8. That he charged the Ministery with sedition warning them not to put on or off Crownes for if they medled therewith they would be reproved 9. That he condemned the particular application of Scripture disdainfully asking In what Scripture they found a Bishop for a thousand pounds horsecorne and poultry c. 10. That he oppugned the doctrine of our Saviour speaking of the number of the wicked and them that perish 11. That he denied any mention to be made in the New Testament of a Presbytery or Eldership 12. That he accused the Ministers of Pasquils lying backbiting c. 13. That the Church being traduced with infamous libels he did not only not find fault therewith but seemed to approve the same having used in his preaching the very words of the Libel cast in the Kings chamber against the Ministers 14. That these three moneths past he had been negligent in doctrine and discipline and giving no assistance to the Eldership The Articles were sent to the King by some Ministers who were desired to shew his Majesty that the accusation was not founded upon the accepting of the Bishoprick but upon erroneous points of doctrine The King answered That whatsoever colour they gave to the process he knew that his yielding to accept the place was the true quarrel and for himself albeit he loved the Religion and agreed fully therewith he allowed not divers heads of their policy alwayes for the particular in hands he would leave the man to make his own answer This reported to the Assembly they went on with the accusation and Montgomery being called Mr. Andrew Melvil became his accuser The Articles upon his denial were admitted to probation but few of them were verified yet the conclusion of the Assembly was that he should continue in his Ministery at Striveling and meddle no more with the Bishoprick under pain of excommunication Mean while the Presbytery of Striveling for they had now erected Presbyteries in divers places of the countrey was enjoyned to try his conversation and how he did exercise discipline if possibly any thing might be found against him that way It fell out at the same time that Mr. Walter Balcanquel one of the Ministers of Edinburgh did utter some reproachful speeches in a Sermon against the Duke of Lennox saying That within these four years Popery had entered into the countrey and Court and was maintained in the Kings Hall by the tyranny of a great Champion who was called Grace But if his Grace continued in opposing himself to God and his word he should come to little Grace in the end The King advertised of this sent Iames Melvil his servant to complain to the Assembly requiring some order to be taken therein The Minister being put to his answer said That he praised God for two things First that he was not accused for any thing done against
great Place and Parts he was not easily tempted to trouble the Press and to shew himself abroad Nor was this History undertaken by him by any free motion of his own but by the instance and command of King Iames whose discerning spirit had singled out him as a person best qualified for an Historian with Prudence and Candor and clearness of style and so much innocent courage as neither to fear to speak the Truth nor to dare to speak a Lie And though his obedience to the Commands of his Soveraign had a very powerful influence upon him yet being to deal with a King who made not his Will his Law but being a great Master of Reason was as ready to hear as to give it he took the liberty in an humble way to propound several Objections one of which more especially deserves to be remembred not onely for the Historians sake but for his that set him on work and it was thus It is not unknown to your Majesty saith the Bishop being willing enough to finde an hansom excuse that your Majesties Mother being defamed by the bold Writings of a malicious Party and the credulity of easie people who to avoid the trouble of searching into them use to swallow such Reports as these without chewing hath not left a clear name behinde her And as in mine own paâ—ticular judgement I cannot joyn with them in those Scandals which they have with so malicious a falshood cast upon her so your Majesty must give me leave to say that in all things she did I cannot approve her And being of necessity to speak of her in the Series of this History what to do therein I know not To whom the King replied Speak the Truth man and spare not And upon this encouragement from so excellent a King which few of the Rulers of this present world dare give to their Historians he chearfully set about this Work and laying aside all Partialities that he might more faithfully go through with it he had not onely the use of all the Registers both of Church and State in Scotland but of all Letters of State that could any way concern the Work he was about which either were sent to him to be survey'd by his own eyes or transcribed by sworn Officers and attested by the Clerks hands With this caution and with these advantages he undertook continued and finish'd this History as the Intervals of publick business and his own private Studies and Devotions would give him leave And the Work being of that nature as not to be Res Ingenii and to be woven out of his own Brain but such as required search and deliberation and such helps as were not alwayes ready at command but were to be waited for let not the Reader wonder that this History begun by King Iames command should not come into the world till both King Iames was in his grave and the Writer too but let him rather wonder that it comes out now for it was left like an Infant of the Israelites in an Ark of Reeds and if Providence had not found out very tender hands and heart to save it it had been lost And now it is time to bring this Reverend Prelat to his grave though his good name and story may be longer lived The manner of his burial by the command and care of his religious King was solemnly ordered for the corps being attended by many mourners and at least 800 Torches and being brought neer the Abbey Church of Westminster the whole Nobility of England and Scotland then present at Court with all the Kings servants and many Gentlemen came out of their Coaches and conveied the body to the West-dore where it was met by the Dean and Prebendaries of that Church in their Clerical habits and buried according to the solemn Rites of the English Church before the extermination of decent Christian burial was come in fashion Above his Corps these words following are engraven in brass MEMORIAE SACRUM DOMINUS JOANNES SPOTISWOOD ECCLESIAE SANCTI ANDREAE ARCHIEPISCOPUS SCOTIAE PRIMAS ET REGNI CANCELLARIUS VIGINTI ANNOS PRESBYTER UNDECEM ANNOS ARCHIEPIS COPUS GLASGOENSIS VIGINTI QUIN QUE ANNOS S. ANDREAE ET PER QUATUOR ANNOS REGNI SCOTIAE CANCELLARIUS EX HAC VITA IN PACE MIGRAVIT ANNO DOMINI 1639 SEXTO CALENDAS DECEMBRIS REGNI CAROLI 15. AETATIS SUAE 74. PRAESUL SENATOR pene MARTYR hìc jacet Quo nemo Sanctior Gravior Constantior Pro Ecclesia pro Rege pro Recta Fide Contra Sacrilegos Perduelles Perfidos Stetit ad extremum usque Vitae Spiritum Solitumque talium Meritorum Praemium Diras Rapinas Exiliumque pertulit Sed hac in Urna in Ore Posterum in Deo Victor potitur Pace Fama Gloria D. M. The Authors Dedication To The High Mighty Monarch Charles by the grace of God King of Great Brittaine France Ireland Defender of the Faith Per Ecclesiam Petor To the KING His most Sacred Majesty CHARLES By the Grace of God King of Great Britain France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. MOST DREAD SOVERAIGN THere is not amongst men a greater help for the attaining unto wisdome then is the reading of History We call Experience a good Mistris and so she is but as it is in our Scottish Proverb It seldome quits the cost History not so it teacheth us at other mens cost and carrieth this advantage more that in a few hours reading a man may gather moe Instructions out of the same then twenty men living successively one after another can possibly learn by their own experience Therefore hath History by all wise men been ever held in good estimation and none thought to deserve better of the Church and State wherein they lived then they that have taken the pains to record unto Posterity the things fallen forth in their dayes For there is no new thing under the Sun what hath been or is the same also shall be saith the Preacher To know the success and event of every course there needs onely the knowledge of things past and a fit comparing of them with the present Now this knowledge is chiefly got by History The want whereof hath bred in our Church many strange mistakings For did men understand how things went at our Reformation and since that time they would never have been moved to think that Episcopacy was against the Constitutions of this Church One of the first things done in it being the placing of Superintendents with Episcopal Power in the same and no act so often iterated in the General Assemblies of the Church as that Ministers should be obedient to their Superintendents under pain of deprivation Then for the Consistorial Discipline brought from Geneva some sixteen years after the Reformation did men know the troubles raised thereby both in the Church and State with the necessity that your Majesties Father of blessed Memory was put to for Reforming that confused Government they would never
grand Uncle having remained there some years and made good profit in letters he returned into Britain and became a zealous Preacher of the Gospel His chief residence was amongst the Picts in the countrey of Galloway there he built a Church all of white stone a sort of structure not usual in those parts and called the same by the name of St. Marâ—ine not meaning to have him taken for the tutelary Saint of that place which in after-ages when superstition prevailed was the conceit of the people but to preserve the memory of his vertues and incite others to the imitation thereof This was the chief respect in those first times that Christians had in denominating their Churches by the names of Saints departed that other they utterly disclaimed Nos Martyribus nostris saith St. Augustin non templa sicut diis fabricamus sed memorias sicut hominibus mortuis quorum apud Deum vivunt spiritus We do not build Temples to our Martyrs as unto Gods but memorials as unto dead men whose spirits with God are still living Bede in his Ecclesiastick story speaking of this Ninian saith that he learned at Rome and was there taught the mysteries of truth But we cannot think that he went a novice thither being trained up under so kinde and learned an Uncle as ever that was he proved a notable instrument in the Church for he converted the Southern Picts to the faith of Christ and for his continual labours in preaching not among them alone for he travelled also among the Scots and Britains but especially for his innocency and holinesse of life he was in so great regard as to which of the three soever he came they did reverence and accept him as the messenger of Christ. Among the Bishops of Galloway he is reckoned the first and thought to have been the Founder of that Colledge for from that Church which he built all of white stone as we said the Bishops of that See have still been and to this day are styled Episcopicandide casae It was in the time of this Eugenius that Palladius came into Scotland imployed as they write by Celestine Bishop of Rome for resisting the Pelagian heresie which began to spread in this Church This man a Grecian by birth learned moderate and singularly wise as appeared in all his actions did purge the Church from those errours and wonne such love and credit as by the space of 24. years he governed all Ecclesiastick affairs in these parts without any grudge or opposition Buchannan is of opinion that before his coming there was no Bishop in this Church Nam saith he adid usque tempus Ecclesiae absque Episcopis per monachos regebantur minore quidem cum fastu externa pompa sed majore simplicitate sanctimonia that is The Church unto that time was governed by Monks without Bishops with lesse pride and outward pomp but greater simplicity and holinesse What warrant he had to write so I know not except he did build upon that which Ioannes Major saith speaking of the same Palladius Per sacerdotes monachos sine Episcopis Scoti in fide erudiebantur The Scots he sayes were instructed in the Christian faith by Priests and Monks without any Bishops But from the instruction of Scots in the faith to conclude that the Church after it was gathered had no other form of government will not stand with any reason For be it as they speak that by the Travels of some pious Monks the Scots were first converted unto Christ it cannot be said that the Church was ruled by Monks seeing long after these times it was not permitted to Monks to meddle with matters of the Church nor were they reckoned among the Clergy As to the pride and pomp which he taxeth in Bishops of later times it might be truly spoken but after Palladius coming for the space of six hundred years and more there was no such excesse to be noted in them But to return to Palladius he was a man most careful in promoting Christian Religion and the first that made Christ to be preached in the Isle of Orkney sending Servanus one of his disciples thither Another called Tervanus he employed among the Northern Picts and ordained both of them Bishops His own remaining for the most part was at Fâ—rdon in the countrey of Mernis where he built a little Church which from him is to this day by a corrupted word called Padie Church There was his corps after his death interred In the year 1494. William Sheâ—ez Archbishop of St. Andrews visiting that Church did in reverence of his memory gather his bones and bestow them in a silver shrine which as the report goeth was taken up at the demolishing of the Churches by a Gentleman of good rank who dwelt near unto that place The people of the countrey observing the decay which followed in that family not many years after ascribed the same to the violation of Palladius grave Much about this time was Ireland converted to the faith of Christ by the labours of Patâ—ick a Scotchman born upon the River of Cluid not far from Glasgow They write of him that being thirteen yeers of age only he was taken prisoner by some Irishes at an invasion they made upon the West parts of Scotland and sold to Mâ—lâ—â— one of their Kings being kept there as a slave the space of four years he was ransomed by his parents and sent to school where having made a reasonable progresse in letters he went to France and there remained 18. years in the company of German Bishop of Auxerre under whom he attained to a great perfection of knowledge especially in the holy Scriptures Thereafter travelling to Rome Pope Celestine the same that sent Palladius to Scotland hearing of his qualities and how he had lived some years in Ireland made choice of him as the fittest person to work the conversion of that people Patrick accepting the imployment addressed himself shortly afâ—er to the journey and in his way by Scotland took with him Columba who came afterwards to be in great esteem Divers upon the report of his good successe followed him thither and ere many moneths passed all the countrey almost was brought to embrace the profession of Christ. He was doubtlesse a notable person and most worthy to be remebred some idle and ignorant Monks have pitifully wronged his memory by their Legends But what a singular man he was and what pains he took to do good in his life-time the Churches he founded reckoned to 365. and the Priests he ordained numbred to be three thousand may sufficiently witnesse He lived 122. years and ended his days in the city of Downe within the Province of Ulster in the year of our Lord 491. That fabulous Purgatory the invention whereof is falsly ascribed to him was the device of a Monk of Glastenbury Abbey in England who bare the same name
but was of a much later time and lived about the year 850. For the opinion of a fiery Purgatory in which souls are tormented after their going forth of the body was not then known among Christians nor did the ancient Irish believe any such matter In our Church at the same time one Hildebert a Bishop was in great accompt for his learning and piety Celius Sedulius had his education under him a man of excellent qualities as his works yet extant both in prose and poesie do witnesse how long Hildebert lived he aboad in his company but after his death he betook himself to travel aud journeying through France and Italy sailed unto Greece there he wrote certain explanations upon the Epistles of St. Paul and returned from thence to Rome made his abode in that city In a Synod gathered by Gelasius Bishop of Rome in the year 494. one of the Canons then made touching books allowed we read these words Venerabilis viri Seâ—ulii Paschale opus quod heroicis descripsit versibus insigni lande proferimus We esteem the Paschal work that venerable Sedulius composed in heroick verses worthy of singular recommendations And even at this day in the Church of Rome certain hymnes compiled by him are sung in the Festivals of the Nativity and Epiphany which sheweth in what esteem he was held Some Irish writers contend that this Sedulius was their countrey man born as the like they affirm of all that were of any note in our Church in those first ages And albeit in divers of his works he doth intitle himself Sedulius Scotigena and that Sixtus Senensis Trithemius Baronius and divers others do all witnesse him to be of the Scottish Nation yet they will have him to be an Irish because forsooth in those elder times the name of Scoti was common to the inhabitants of the greater and lesser Scotland But this reason is naught for granting that the countreys were so distinguished of old and that Ireland was called Scotia major and the part of Britain which the Colonie deduced from thence did inhabit Scotia minor whereof there is some appearance yet that will not infer him to be an Irish more then a Scot. This I trust they will not deny that Scotland was Christian long before Ireland and that Sedulius of whom we speak was come to a good age before Patrick went about their conversion Now if he had been an Irish by Nation would not he much rather have imployed his travels to instruct his countrey men in the truth then have spent his time abroad among strangers Further I should desire these who plead so earnestly to have our men esteemed to be of their countrey to name any one another worthy of credit that since the Scots were reduced from their exile by Fergus the second did ever call Ireland Scotland the greater They will not finde any of trust the name of Scots being long before appropriated to the Colonie reduced from thence and quite extinct among the Irish. It is true that we oftfinde the Scots called Irishes like as yet we term commonly our Highland-men in regard they speak the Irish language and retain divers of their customes But that the Irish were called Scots or the countrey of Ireland called Scotland since they grew to be different nations and were known to be so I am confident will not be shewed To close this howsoever Ireland be the Mother and Scotland the daughter as a reverend Prelate hath written we deny not for our first progenitors we hold came from that countrey there is no reason why the sons which the daughter hath brought forth should be reckoned the sons of another Mother and she thereby robbed of her honor But to our story the condition of this Church in those times was most happy all the care of Preachers being to winne souls unto Christ Avarice and Ambition the two main pests of the Church had not as yet seised upon them so as they were held with all people in great veneration Beda saith that whosoever did meet them by occasion either in the streets or otherwise in journeying by the way they would not depart without their blessing And which increased greatly the felicity of the time the Kings who then reigned were all wise and religious Congallus the second deserves by the rest to be mentioned Vir ob egregias virtutes saith Buchannan omnium seculorum memoria dignus Nam praeter aequitatem in jure dicundo animum adversâ—is avaritiam invictum certabat moderatione vitae cum Monachis qui ea aetate severissima disciplina utebantur Thas is he was a man for his notable vertues worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance For besides his equity in the ministration of Justice and the uncorrupt mind he carried being free of all covetousnesse in moderation of life he was nothing inferiour to the Monks who in that age observed a most strict discipline This good King considering how easily people are brought to contemn Ministers that stand in need of their supply and that the contempt of Ministers breedeth ever contempt of Religion did carefully provide for their necessities appointing to them Mansion places at the Churches where they served with a competent portion of land thereto adjoyning and declaring the tenth of all cornes fruits herbs and flocks which did either produce or nourish to appertain properly to the Church He did further enact for the safety of their persons That if any should happen to smite a Church-man his hand should be cut off and if the Church-man was killed that the murtherer should lose all his goods and be burnt alive For the greater reverence of Church-censures it was likewise his ordinance That whosoever were by the Church excommunicated should not be admitted to stand in judgement nor credit given to their testimony The fame of this Kings pious disposition drew Columba back from Ireland where he had lived a long time There came with him some twelve in company of whom the principals were Sibthacus and Ethernanus his nephews by his brother both of them Presbyters Domitius Rutheus and Comineus men of excellent learning and good behaviour who were all well accepted of the King But of Columba he made such accompt as he did nothing in any matter of importance till he had first consulted with him By his advice the Monks that in former times lived dispersed were gathered into Cloysters or Colledges and had Rules prescribed unto them which falling afterward to be neglected in place of religious Monks there crept in a sort of idle-bellies that disordered all things and made the profession which in the begining was well devised to be misliked and hated of all King Congallus after a little time sickning sent Columba into Ireland to bring home Aidanus the right heir of the Kingdom who had fled thither after the murther of his Father Goranus that he might possesse him
Apostle St. Andrew stood by him and assured him of the victory which vision being related to the Army did much encourage them The History addeth that in the joyning of the battel there appeared in the aire a Crosse in form of the letter X which so terrified the enemies as presently they gave back King Athelstane was himself there killed whereupon the Village took the name which at this day it enjoyeth of Athelstan Foord Hungus to expresse his thankfulnesse for the victory gave to the Church of Regulus now called St. Andrews divers rich gifts as Chalices Basons the Image of Christ in gold and of his twelve Apostles in silver He gave likewise a case of beaten gold for preserving the Reliques of S. Andrew and restored to the Spirituality the tithes of all cornes cattel and herbage within the Realm exempting them from answering before any temporal Judge Further he did appoint the Crosse of St. Andrew to be the badge and cognisance of the Picts both in their warres and otherwise which as long as that Kingdom stood was observed as is by the Scots as yet retained But all this was spoiled as we said by Feredeth the third in succession from Hungus after which time nothing prospered either with him or with that people For the line masculine of their Kings failing Alpin the son of Achaius did claim the Crown as next in blood by vertue of an old Covenant betwixt the Scots and Picts the Picts refusing to accept him being a stranger made choice of this Feredeth whom we named and thereupon warre was denounced The first encounter was at Restennoth in Angus where in a cruel fight which continued from the morning untill night Feredeth was killed his son Brudeus who succeeded was made away by the Picts themselves in the first year of his reign and Kenneth his brother that succeeded to him came to the like unfortunate end After Kenneth another called Brudeus was elected King and he in a battel fought not farre from Dundy took King Alpin and many of his Nobles prisoners which victory he used most foully putting all the Nobles to death killing the King and causing his head to be set upon a pole in Abernethy or as others write in the city of Camelon The Picts upon this victory supposing that they had utterly broken the courage of the Scots did purpose nothing lesse then their extermination which after the death of Brudeus his brother Drusken that succeeded went earnestly about But Kenneth the second the son of Alpin a Prince of a brave and heroick spirit pursued so hotly the revenge of his fathers death as having defeated the Picts in divers battels he drave them all in the end forth of the Kingdom and united that Crown to his own of Scotland This Kenneth was a most wise and valiant King and so circumspect in his businesse that from that time forth none of the Picts were ever heard to resume the title of a King The countreys which they inhabited he divided amongst the Nobles and others whose labours in these warres had merited a recompence He established good and wholesome Lawes To the Church he gave another face and a greater outward splendour then the former ages had seen translating the Episcopal See which whilest the Pictish Kingdom stood was setled in Abernethy to the Church of St. Reul and ordaining it from thenceforth to be called The Church of S. Andrews and the Bishop thereof Maximus Scotorum Episcopus The principal Bishop of Scotland Churches Chappels and Oratories with their Priests and all sorts of religious men he caused to be held in great reverence and in a word did so nobly perform all actions both a Warre and Peace as he may rightly be placed amongst the best Kings and reckoned the third Founder of the Scottish Monarchy THE HISTORY of the CHURCH OF SCOTLAND THE SECOND BOOK The Contents The Succession of Bishops in the several Sees of this Kingdome especially in the See of Saint ANDREVVS with other principal things that happened in their times HAving made a collection of such things as I found dispersed in stories and warranted in any sort for the first six hundred years of our Church and being now come to the time wherein this Church by enlarging of the Kingdom received a further extention in bounds and therewith an addition of more wealth and state I will as beginning with a new accompt follow the story therof by the succession of Bishops especially in the See of Saint Andrewes upon which the rest did depend The first Bishop who fate in this See was Adrian killed by the Danes in the Isle of May in the year 872. with Stolbrandus a Bishop Monanus an Archdeacon Glodianus a Presbyter and a number of other Churchmen who fled thither for their safety Whilest this Bishop lived Constantine the second the son of Kenneth did keep a convention in Scone for reforming the disorders which the loose and dissolute government of his predecessour Donald the first had caused In that convention beginning was made at the Clergy and concerning them it was ordained That they should reside upon their charges and have no medling with secular businesse That they should instruct the people diligently and be good ensamples in their conversation That they should not keep Hawks Hounds or Horses for pleasure That they should carry no weapons nor be pleaders of civil causes but live contented with their own provisions And if they were tried to transgresse in any of these points that for the first fault they should be fined in a pecuniary mulct and for the second deprived from their office and living Thus was it not held in that time a diminution of Ecclesiastical authority for Princes to give Lawes to the Clergy and to punish them if they were found guilty of any offence or crime Divers other statutes for redressing abuses crept into the Realme were then also concluded as That drunkennesse should be punished with death that none should eat above one meal a day nor accustome themselves to lye softly or use any recreations but such as might inure them to sufferance and labour Whereby that good King did banish all riot and luxury and in a short time brought the Kingdom again to a flourishing estate But the Danes as we said invaded the countrey and practising many cruelties whilest he did pursue them who had entrenched themselves not farre from the Town of Carrail he was unfortunately with all his Army overthrowne and being taken prisoner the day following beheaded at the mouth of a little cave which in detestation of that fact is to this day called The Devils Cave 2. Unto Bishop Adrian succeeded Kellach how long he lived I finde not 3. After him Malisius governed the See by the space of eight years This Bishop had the happinesse to live under Gregory called the Great a King indued with all the vertues that can be wished for or
money and not out of any purpose those Fathers had to redresse abuses The same year was one Bagimund a Legate directed hither who calling before him all the Beneficed persons within the kingdom caused them upon their oath give up the worth and value of their Benefices according to which they were taxed The table commonly called Bagiments rolls served for the present collection and was a rule in after times for the prizes taken of those that came to sue for Benefices in the Court of Rome Wishart not long after his return from this Councel being employed by the King and State in a Commission of the Borders sickned at Marbotle in Teriotdale and there died He is commended to have been a man careful in his charge and a great lover of peace then which there is no vertue more required in a Churchman he continued Bishop 5. years and 8. monthes only his corps was honourably conveyed from Marbotle and interred in his own Church nigh to the high Altar in the year 1279. There lived in the kingdome at this time Michael Scot and Thomas Lermouth men greatly admired the first for his rarest skill in the secrets of nature the other for his predictions and foretelling of things to come Picus Mirandula and Cornelius Agrippa do make honourable mention of Michael Scot in their writings and accompt him to have been a subtile Philosopher and most expert in the Mathematick sciences The prophecies yet extant in the Scottish Rymes of the other whereupon he was commonly called Thomas the Rymer may justly be admired having foretold so many ages before the union of the kingdomes of England and Scotland in the ninth degree of the Bruces blood with the succession of Bruce himselfe to the Crown being yet a childe and other divers particulars which the event hath ratified and made good Boeth in his story relateth his prediction of King Alexanders death and that he did foretell the same to the Earl of March the day before it fell out saying That before the next day at noon such a tempest should blow as Scotland had not felt many years before The next morning the day being clear and no change appearing in the aire the Nobleman did challenge Thomas of his saying calling him an Impostor he replied that noon was not yet passed About which time a Post came to advertise the Earl of the King his sudden death Then said Thomas This is the tempest I foretold and so it shall prove to Scotland Whence or how he had this knowledge can hardly be affirmed but sure it is that he did divine and answer truly of many things to come 25. William Fraser Chancellour of the kingdom was after Wishart elected Bishop and going to Rome was consecrated by Pope Nicolaus the third in the year 1280. The office of Chancery upon his resignation was given by the King to Mâ— Iohn Pebles Archdeacon of S. Andrewes At his return from Rome a pestilential feaver never before known in this kingdome brake up to the destruction of an infinite number of people This visitation was scarce ceased when all the Kings children were taken away one after another first David his yongest son died then Alexander the Prince who had married a daughter of the Earl of Flanders after him Margret Queen of Norway who left behinde her one onely daughter and last the King himself who had taken to wife after the death of his Queen Iolet a daughter to the Count of Dreux in hope to restore his issue was most unfortunately killed by the fall of his horse a little space from the town of Kingorne So many deaths falling out together in the Royal family did presage great calamities to ensue The onely hope that remained was in the Norvegian maid for whom Sir David Wemis and Sir Michael Scot two Knights of Fife were directed by the Estates The administration of affaires was in the mean time committed to William Fraser Bishop of S. Andrewes Duncan Earl of Fife and Iohn Coming Earl of Bughan for the countries on the North side of Forth and to Robert Bishop of Glasgow Iohn Lord Comin and Iohn Lord Stewart for the South parts but it was not long before that these Gentlemen that were sent to Norway returned bringing word that the maid of Norway was likewise departed this life At which newes it cannot be told whether the fears or sorrowes of the subjects were greater for as their sorrow for the losse of so worthy a King was great so their fear was no lesse because of the uncertainty of the succession for so many Competitors six they were in number claiming the inheritance of the Crown and all of them men of power and friendship they could not but divide the Realme and so beget a civil warre yet they who were trusted during the interreigne 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 To this purpose the Bishop of Brichen with the Abbot of Iedbrugh and Galfred Mowbray a Gentleman were sent to King Edward who finding him at Xantoign in France did expone to him the inconveniences that were feared to fall out in the kingdome 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 loving words assigning a Diet to the Competitors at Norham upon Tweed which he promised to keep The day come and the Competitors all present with the Prelates and other Nobles the King by a long and premeditated speech declared That albeit he might justly claim the superiority of the kingdome of Scotland as belonging to him by right yet as a friend and arbiter elected by themselves he would labour to compose the present controversie in the best sort he could for the right said he howsoever there be divers pretenders belongeth to one onely and for my self I determine to wrong no man but to do that whâ—ch is just assuring my self you will all acquiesce and take him for King who shall be pronounced so to be This said Robert Bishop of Glasgow arose and gave the King most hearty thanks in name of the rest for the good affection he bare to their countrey and the paines he had taken to come and remove their debates shewing that out of a perswasion they all had of his wisdome and equity they were well pleased to submit to him as sole Arbiter the judgement and decision of that weighty affaire But where it had pleased him to speak of a right of superiority over the kingdome it was sufficiently known that Scotland from the first foundation of the State had been a free and independent kingdome and not subject to any other power whatsoever That their ancestors
his coming for as to himself he would not consent to his death before the cause were well examined and if the Cardinal should do otherwise he would make protestation that the mans blood should be required at his hands This answer grieved the Cardinal not a little for he knew that the delay would work the prisoners escape and to commit the cause to examination he saw it was more dangerous Therefore in a great passion he replied That he wrote not unto the Governour as though he depended in any matter upon his authority but out of a desire he had that the hereticks condemnation might proceed with a shew of publick consent which since he could not obtain he would be doing himselfe that which he held most fitting Thus he made a citation to be given forth and Master George to be charged to appear the next morrow to answer for his seditious and heretical doctrine Master George receiving the summons said The Cardinal hath no need to summon me for I am in his hands and kept fast in irons so as he may compell me to answer at what time he pleaseth But to manifest saith he what men you are it is well done to keep your formes and constitutions The next day the Cardinal and Prelates being met in the Abbey Church the prisoner was presented by the Captain of the Castle and then the Sub-prior called Master Iohn Winrame a man of good learining and one who secretly favoured the truth went up into the Pulpit as he had been injoyned he took for his Theam the words of our Saviour in the thirteenth of Matthewes Gospel concerning the good seed which he interpreted to be the word of God heresie he said was the ill seed and that he defined to be a false opinion fighting directly against the word and defended with pertinacie Thereafter falling to speak of the causes of heresie he said the main cause was the ignorance and negligence of those who had the cure of soules and neither understood the word of God nor could use the same to the convincing of false teachers and the reducing of those who were gone astray In the latter part of his Sermon speaking of the way how heresies should be discerned he said That as the Goldsmith knoweth the fine gold from the counterfeit by the touchstone so is heresie discerned by the true sincere and undefiled word of God And in the end concluded that hereticks ought to be punished and might lawfully be put to death by the Magistrate Now albeit that was said made directly against themselves who were there met not to confute heresie but to bear down the truth and punish those that found fault with their pride and licentiousnesse yet as all had been spoken for them they proceeded and after their wonted form placed Mr. George in a seat erected for that purpose and over against him Master Iohn Lawder a Priest in another who having a scroll of a paper in his hand containing the Articles laid unto Mr. George his charge did use many bitter and reproachful words all which he heard very patiently not moving or changing once his countenance Being required to answer before he would utter a word he bowed his knees and made his prayer to God then standing up intreating them in most humble manner to suffer him repeat the summe of the doctrine which he had taught since his coming into Scotland which he said was nothing but what the ten Commandements of God the 12. Articles of Christian faith and the Lords prayer contained In Dundy he said that he had preached a part of the Epistle to the Romanes And as he was going on to shew what form he kept in his preaching he was interrupted by the accuser who with many opprobrious speeches calling him an heretick a runnegate a traitour and thief said that it was not lawful for him to preach and that he had usurped the power at his own hand without any lawful calling of the Church The Prelates also prohibiting all discourses willed him to answer simply yea or nay fearing if liberty was given him to speak he should draw some of the hearers to his mind Mr. George perceiving that he could not have audience appealed to an equal and indifferent Judge Whereunto Lawder replied that the Cardinal was a more then sufficient Judge for him and then he reckoned out all his styles saying that he was Archbishop of S. Andrews Bishop of Meropois Chancellour of Scotland Commendatory of Aberbrothock Legatus natus legatus à latere and the second person within the Realm Mr. George calmly answered I do not condemn my Lord Cardinal but I desire the word of God to be my Iudge and some of the Temporal estate with certain of your Lordships here present because I am my Lord Governours prisoner At which words some foolish people that stood by cried out Such man such Iudge meaning that the Governour and others of the Temporal State were hereticks like unto himself Then would the Cardinal have pronounced sentence without any further process but being advertised to let the accusation be read and hear what he would say lest people should think him wrongfully condemned he commanded the Priest to read the points distinctly and receive his answer to every one of them severally The Articles laid to his charge were eighteen in number which with the answers he made the Reader may at his leisure see in the book of Martyrs After they had spent some houres in this sort sentence was pronounced against him and he condemned to be burnt as an heretick Then was he led back to the Castle and lodged in the Captains chamber that night the greatest part whereof he spent in prayer Early in the morning the Prelates sent two Friers to advertise him that he must die and askt if he would confesse himself he answered That he had no businesse with Friers nor would he willingly conferre with them but if they were disposed to gratify him in that sort he desired to speak with the learned man that preached the day before This being permitted the Sub-prior came and talked with him a good space At last he askt Mr. George if he would receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper he answered Most willingly so I may have it ministred according to Christs institution under both kindes of bread and wine Hereupon the Sub-prior went to the Bishops and told that he had conferred with the prisoner who did solemnly affirm that he was free of all the crimes and that he did utter this not out of a desire he had of life but to manifest his innocency which was known to God before men The Cardinal offended with these speeches of the Sub-prior said It is a long time since we knew what a man thou art The Sub-prior answering nothing asked if they would permit the Sacrament to be given to the prisoner the Cardinal conferring with the rest of the Bishops a
a man of noble qualities and full of courage but falling unfortunately in the slaughter of the Cardinal which he is said at his dying to have sore repented he lost himself and the expectation which was generally held of his worth The countrey notwithstanding the peace made with England was not in much better case for the Governour who was altogether ruled by the Bishop his brother going through the countrey with Iustice Courts as they call them vexed the people mightily and whereas during the warre men enjoyed the liberty of their profession a new persecution was raised which took the beginning at one Adam Wallace a simple man but very zealous in his Religion he was taken at Winton in Lothian by the Bishops direction and brought to his trial in the Church of Black Friers in Edinburgh where in presence of the Governour the Earl of Argyle great Justice of the Realme the Earles of Angus Huntley Glaincarne and divers others of the Nobility he was accused first of usurping the office of a Preacher having no lawful calling thereto next of baptizing one of his own children thirdly for denying Purgatory fourthly for maintaining that prayers made to the Saints and for the dead were meerly superstitious and fifthly for calling the Masse an idolatrous service and affirming that the bread and wine in the Sacrament of the Altar after the words of consecration remained bread and wine To the first he answered That he never judged himselfe worthy of so excellent a vocation as is the calling of a Preacher nor did he ever presume to preach onely he confessed that in some private places he did read a part of the Scripture at times and make a short exhortation thereupon to those that would hear him It being replied that he ought not to have medled with the Scriptures he said That he esteemed it the duty of every Christian to seek the knowledge of Gods word and the assurance of his own salvation which was not to be found but in the Scriptures One that stood by saying What then shall be left to the Bishops and Churchmen to do if every man should be a babler upon the Bible he answered It becomes you to speak more reverently of God and of his blessed word and if the Iudge did right he would punish you for your blasphemy But to your question I say that albeit you and I and five thousand mo would read the Bible and conferre together upon it yet we leave more to the Bishops to do then either they will do or can for we leave to them the preaching of the Gospel of Christ and the feeding of the flock which he hath redeemed by his own blood which is a burthen heavy enough neither do we them any wrong in working out our own salvation so farre as we may To the second he answered That it was as lawful for him to baptize his own childe since he could not have a true Minister as it was to Abraham to circumcise Ismael and his family To the third and fourth heads more generally he said That he never believed nor maintained any thing but that he found in the book hanging at his girdle which was the Bible in French Dutch and English And being urged to be more particular he answered That if he were disposed to speak of these matters he would require a more upright and indifferent Iudge The Earl of Huntley upon that saying he was a fool to desire another Judge then the Governour and the Bishops there present he replied That the Bishops could not be his Iudges because they were open enemies to the doctrine he professed And for the Governour he doubted if he had the knowledge to discern lies from truth and the inventions of men from the true worship of God The Iudge that he desired he said was the book of God by which if he should be convinced to have taught spoken or done in matters of Religion any thing that was repugnant to the will of God he would not refuse to die but if he tried innocent and was found not to have spoken or done any thing contrary thereto then he desired the protection of the Governour and Nobility against the Tyranny of malicious men Being enquired what he did think of the Masse he said That he had read the Bible in three languages and had never found the word Masse in them all and that the thing which was in greatest estimation with men was nothing but abomination in the sight of God Then did all the company cry out Heresie heresie let him be condemned So the poor man was sentenced to be an heretick and put in the hands of Sir Iohn Campbel of Lundie Justice deputy who having adjudged him to die sent him back to prison because the night was coming on all that night he spent in singing of Psalmes which he had learned by heart and the next day was led forth to the fire which was prepared in the Castle hill being inhibited to speak unto the people yet when he came to the place of execution he intreated the beholders Not to offend with the truth because of his sufferings saying The disciple is not above his Master and as he was proceeding the Provost of the Town who had the oversight of the execution did interrupt him saying that he would not be permitted to speak to the people whereupon having in some few words commended his soul to God he took his death most patiently The same year there arose a great contention amongst the Churchmen for saying the Pater noster upon this occasion One Richard Marshal Prior of the Black Friers at Newcastle in England had been in S. Andrews and in one of his Sermons taught that the Pater noster should be said unto God only and not unto the Saints Some Doctors of the University taking exception against his doctrine stirred up a Gray Frier called Frier Tottis to confute him and prove that the Pater noster might be said unto the Saints The Frier an audacious and ignorant fellow took the matter in hand and reading his text out of the fifth of S. Matthewes Gospel Blessed are the poor in spirit for unto them belongeth the kingdome of heaven gathered upon it that the Pater noster might be said to Saints because all the Petitions in the prayer said he appertain to the Saints for if we meet an old man in the street we will say Good morrow Father much more in our prayers may we call the Saints our Fathers and seeing we grant they are in heaven we may say to every one of them Our Father which art in heaven Then we know said he God hath made their names holy so we may say to any of the Saints Hallowed be thy name And as they are in the Kingdome of heaven so that Kingdome is theirs by possession therefore when we pray for the Kingdome of heaven we may say to any of them Thy kingdome come In
upon them which otherwise then for eschewing the present danger he would not have done To this Iohn Knox answered That men ought so to serve the time as they neglect not their obedience unto God whose Commandement how great soever the danger be may not be transgressed For the ensample alledged he said the dissimilitude was great seeing to go into the Temple to purifie and pay vowes was sometimes commanded by God himself whereas the Masse from the first invention of it was abominable idolatry and never allowed of God Further he said that it might justly be doubted if either S. Pauls fact or the advice that S. James and the Elders of Jerusalem gave him had any good warrant seeing the event proved not such as they did promise to themselves for S. Paul was so farre from purchasing thereby the favour of the Jewes as to the contrary they rising in a tumult threw him forth of the Temple and had almost killed him so as it seemed God did not allow his doing for that it served to confirm the obstinate Jewes in their superstition By these and the like answers to the rest of the allegations propounded the hearers were so satisfied as they resolved to go no more to Masse but to make an open separation whose ensample divers others both of the Town and Countrey followed This being observed by the Priests and others of the inferiour Clergy they complained to the Bishops and shewed how the Church-service was contemned and people drawn away to private conventicles The Bishops meaning the case to the Queen Regent she was much commoved yet advised them to use their own authority and spare her for a little time lest the Articles of the marriage which was then treating betwixt her daughter and the Daulphine of France might receive some crosse at the Convention of the Estates Hereupon they took counsel to call Iohn Knox and summoned him to appear in the Church of Black friers at Edinburgh the fifteenth of May. But when the day came they took a new device and deserted the Diet pretending some informality in the Summons howbeit the true cause was that a number of Barons and Gentlemen were come to the Town to assist him After that time his preaching grew publick and was more frequented then before The Earls of Glencarn and Marshall repaired daily thereto and were so taken with his Sermons as they did counsell him to write unto the Queen Regent and intreat her to make a Reformation of the Church which he did the letter was delivered by the Earle of Glencarne but she calling it a Pasquill gave the same to the Archbishop of Glasgow and made no more accompt thereof This is that letter which was afterwards published in Print and intituled A letter to Queen Dowager Letters about the same time were brought to Iohn Knox from the English Church at Geneva declating that they had elected him to be their Preacher and requesting him to come and accept the Charge This letter he communicated with those that were his ordinary auditors and when he saw them exceedingly grieved for his departing gave his promise to return how soon they should finde it fit to recall him Soon after he took leave of them and went to his journey but was not well gone when upon a new citation directed by the Clergy because he appeared not he was condemned for an heretick and burnt in effigie at the Mercat-crosse of Edinburgh This was done in the moneth of Iuly 1556. the copy of the sentence being sent unto him he published an Apology intituling it An appellation from the Clergy to the Nobility and Commons of Scotland This year many prodigious signes were observed A Comet of that kind which the Astronomers call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the vulgars a firie Bissome shined the whole moneths of November December and Ianuary great Rivers in the middest of winter dried up and in the summer swelled so high as divers Villages were therewith drowned and numbers of cattel feeding in the valley grounds carried to the sea Whales of a huge greatnesse were cast out into sundry parts of the River of Forth hailstones of the bignesse of a Doves egge falling in many parts destroyed abundance of Cornes and which was most terrible a firie Dragon was seen to flie low upon the earth vomiting forth fire both in the day and night season which lasted a long time and put the people to a necessity of watching their houses and Corn-yards These direful signes as every man is led by his fancy to presage were taken by some to be progonosticks of great troubles that should ensue upon the Match with France others said that thereby was signified some great change in the estate of the Church And indeed after this the estimation of the Clergy daily diminished and divers of that number relinquishing their order made open profession of the truth Mr. Iohn Dowglas a Carmelite Frier forsaking his Order became a Chaplain to the Earl of Argyle who resided then at Court and spoke openly in his Sermons against Popish superstitions In Dundy Paul Methven did publickly exhort the people to renounce the doctrine of Rome and submit themselves to the doctrine of Christ. And in all the parts of the countrey some were daily breaking forth especially from the Cloisters and declaiming against the corruptions of the Church The Bishops perceiving it would be to no purpose to convene the Preachers before themselves for heresie moved the Queen Regent to call them before the Councell for raising mutinies and stirring up people to sedition hoping that way at least to restrain their publick teaching but at the day appointed for their appearance such numbers of people did accompany them as it was held safest not to call them till the multitude was disperst and for that effect a Proclamation was given out charging all persons that were come to the Town without licence of the Authority to repaire immediately to the borders and attend the Lieutenant in the service against England for the space of 15. dayes The Gentlemen of the West countrey who were but lately returned from the same service esteeming this a sort of oppression went in a tumult to the Palace and entering the Queens Privy chamber complained of the unreasonable Proclamation that was sent forth The Queen began to excuse the matter and shew the necessity of their attendance for some short time but they would not be satisfised And one Iames Chalmers of Gaitgirth a froward and furious man stepping forward said We know Madam that this is the device of the Bishops who stand by you we avow to God it shall not go so they oppresse us and our poor tenants for feeding their idle bellies they trouble our Preachers and seek to undoe them and us all we will not suffer it any longer And with those words every man made to his weapon The Queen being extremely feared gave them many
flagitious man supplying the place of the temporal Judge condemned him to the fire and because no cords could be had the ropes of the Archbishops Pavilion were taken to serve the purpose As the time of his suffering drew near his constancy and courage still encreased for being conveyed to the fire with a number of armed men when he was come to the place and the Priest Oliphant did command him to go to the stake he said No I will not go except thou put me up with thy hand for by the law of God I am forbidden to put hands in my self but wilt thou put to thy hand and take part of my death thou shalt see me go up gladly Then Oliphant putting him forward he went up with a chearful countenance saying Introibo ad altare Dei and desired he might be permitted to speak to the people Oliphant and the executioners said that he had spoken too much and that the Bishops were offended with the delay Yet some youths that stood by willed him to speak what he pleased giving the executioners and Bishops both to the devil So after he had made his prayer upon his knees he arose and standing upon the coales spake to the people a few words to this effect Dear friends the cause why I suffer this day is not for any crime laid to my charge though I acknowledge my self a miserable sinner before God but only for the defence of Iesus Christ set forth in the old and new Testaments for which as many faithful Martyrs have offered their lives most gladly being assured after their death to enjoy endlesse felicity so this day I praise God that he hath called me of his mercy amongst the rest of his servants to seal up his truth with my life which as I have received of him so willingly I offer it to his glory Therefore as you would escape eternal death be no more seduced with the lyes of the Priests Monks Friers Priors Abbots Bishops and the rest ' of the sect of Antichrist but depend onely upon Iesus Christ and his mercy that you may be delivered from condemnation The multitude that lookt on made a great lamentation for they were exceedingly moved with his words When the fire was kindled and began to flame he cried Lord have mercy on me pray good people whilest there is time and thus departed shewing a wonderful courage and resolution of spirit The Citizens took his death so grievously that lest it should be forgotten they made up a great heap of stones in the place where his body was burnt and when the Priests had caused the heap twice or thrice to be carried away denouncing such as should bring any stones thither accursed still it was renewed untill watches were appointed to see who they were that brought any stones to the place and charge given to apprehend them The Epitaph made upon him is worthy the inserting Non nostra impietas aut actae crimina vitae Armarunt hostes in mea fata truces Sola fides Christi sacris signata libellis Quae vitae causa est mihi causa necis This man was the last Martyr that died in Scoâ—land for Religion and his death the very death of Popery in this Realme for thereby the minds of men were so greatly enraged as resolving thereafter openly to professe the truth they did bind themselves by promise and subscription to oaths if any should be called in question for matters of Religion at any time after they should take up Armes and join in defence of their brethren against the tyrannous persecution of the Bishops The work of Reformation did hereupon take a beginning the story whereof before I set down after I have remembred some worthy persons that lived in those times I will adde the Catalogue of our Bishops in the rest of the Sees of this Kingdome so farre as I have been enformed or learned by diligent search Sir David Lindsay of Mont shall first be named a man honourably descended and greatly favoured by King Iames the first Besides his knowledge and deep judgement in Heraldry whereof he was the chief and in other publick affairs he was most religiously inclined but much hated by the Clergy for the liberty he used in condemning the superstition of the time and rebuking their loose and dissolute lives Notthelesse he went unchallenged and was not brought in question which shewed the good account wherein he was held Divers poesies he wrote in his mother tongue which gave evidence of his quicknesse of wit and the knowledge he had in histories In the beginning of the Governours Regencie he did attend him till the Governour misled by ill counsel made his authority subject to the Cardinal After that time he lived for the most part private and died in a good age the Queen Regent having the administration of affairs Next to him shall be remembred Mr. Patrick Cockburn a Gentleman of the house of Langton in the Merss this man having attained by his studies to great learning lived a long time in the University of Paris well esteemed What course he took afterwards I know not nor where he died but by the Treatises yet extant that he wrote it appeareth that he was a man of good learning and a favourer of the truth The third shall be Iohn Mackbrair a Gentleman of Galloway who forsaking the countrey for Religion became a Preacher in the English Church in the time of Queen Maries persecution he fled to Frankford and served the English congregation as Minister Afterwards called by some occasion to the charge of a Church in the lower Germany he continued there the rest of his dayes Some Homilies he left upon the Prophecie of Hosea and an History of the beginning and progresse of the English Church To these I shall adde our countreyman Robert Wachop though he lived and died an adversary to the truth seeing by his vertue and learning he purchased both credit and dignity in forain parts and which almost exceedeth beliefe being blind from his very birth onely by learning the lessons and conferences of learned men he grew to such knowledge as in the University of Paris none of the Doctors was held more learned nor had a more frequent auditory being afterward promoved to the Archbishoprick of Armach in Ireland he was employed in divers legations to the Emperour and King of France by Pope Paul the third which he discharged with such prudence as he came to be greatly esteemed with all the Princes to whom he was known At last in his return homewards from Rome in the year 1551. he died at Paris much lamented of all that University Coming now to set down the Catalogue of Bishops in the rest of the Sees I shall keep the order of the Provinces and begin with Dunkeld the Bishop whereof hath hitherto been reckoned in the first place The Bishops of DUNKELD In the City of Dunkeld there
Edward 5. And after Edward Robert Reid a man of excellent wit and great experience employed in divers legations and selected amongst others by the Estates to assist the marriage of Queen Mary with the Daulphin of France he died in his return at Deep much regretted for he was a man of great integrity and careful in the administration of Justice The Bishops of GLASGOW This City at first was made famous by Kentigern commonly called Saint Mungho who is esteemed the first Bishop thereof I spake of him before and shewed how he was begotten by Eugenius the third upon Thametis daughter to the King of Picts his mother finding her self with childe out of shame and fear of her fathers wrath stole privately away and entring into a little vessel that she found at the nearest coast was by the winde and waves cast on land where the town of Culross is now situated there was delivered of her birth and leaving the childe with a nurse returned home his Parents being unknown he was brought to Servanus and baptized and bred up by him yet it â—â—ems by the hymne they did ordinarily sing in the Festivals that his Father came afterwards to be known for thus it beginnes ... They report of him that a Lady of good place in the countrey having lost a ring which her husband gave her as she crossed the river of Cluyd and her husband waxing jealous as if she had bestowed the same upon one of her lovers she did mean her self unto him intreating his help for the safety of her honour and that he going to the river after he had used his devotion willed one who was making to fish to bring him the first that he caught which was done in the mouth of that fish he found the ring and sending it to the Lady she was thereby freed of her husbands suspicion The credit of this I believe upon the reporters but howsoever it be the See and City do both of them wear in their Armes a fish with a ring in the mouth even to this day He was certainly a man of rare piety and to the poor exceeding bountiful lived to a great age beyond the ordinary course of men as in the conclusion of the hymne is said Cum octogenos centum quoque quinque vir annos Complerat sanctus est Glasgow funere functus After his death for many ages the See was in a manner desolate unto the reign of Malcolm the third who restored the same to some integrity The first Bishop I find named after the restitution was 1. Iohn Achaian who took great paines in building the Cathedral and having brought it to a reasonable perfection did dedicate the same in the year 1137. King David being there in person and bestowing upon the See the lands of Patrick which the Bishops do yet enjoy It was in his time that Thurstan Archbishop of York encroaching upon his jurisdiction which at that time comprehended the countrey of Cumberland placed a new Bishop at Carlisle by the instigation of Henry King of England This the Bishop took so heavily as when he perceived his complaints not much regarded he forsook his charge and went into France inclosing himself in the Monastery of Tours where he abode untill the Pope at the request of King Malcolm the fourth compelled him to return after which time he lived not long for he died at Glasgow in the year 1146. the twenty eighth of May. 2. To him succeeded another called Iohn who was greatly favoured by King Alexander the first and did counsel Eadmerus because of the Kings dislike to leave S. Andrews and return unto England 3. Herbert was his successour and in his time the controversie with York was great for the superiority claimed by one Roger Archbishop of York over the Bishops of Scotland This contention drew Angelramus Archdeacon of Glasgow and Chancellour of the Kingdom for the time to travel unto Rome as was touched before and Herbert dying whilest he was there 4. Angelramus by an uniform consent of the Clergy and Laity was elected in his place and upon notice given of the election consecrated by Pope Alexander at Rome from whom he obtained an exemption to the Church of Scotland from the jurisdiction of the English and all others the Apostolick See only excepted Shortly after his return he died 5. Iocelin Abbot of Melrosse was his successour in his time the City of Glasgow was erected into a Burgh Royal he died at Melrosse and was interred in that Monastery 6. Eugenius was chosen after his death but how long he lived I read not 7. Hugo Chancellour of the Kingdome succeeded and lived but a few years 8. After him VVilliam Malvoisin a French man was elected and consecrated in France by the Popes direction he was afterward translated to S. Andrews and preferred to the office of Chancellary 9. Florentius sonne to the Count of Holland was assumed in his place and shortly after upon licence obtained of the Pope he resigned the office and died at Rome in the year 1207. 10. And then VValter Chaplain to King William was consecrated Bishop he lived in the place 27. yeares 11. VVilliam Babington Chancellor of the Kingdom was after his death elected Bishop In his time as Boeth writeth the fabrick of the Church of Glasgow was fully accomplished his words are Absolutum est ea tempestate templum Cathedrale Glasguense sedes profectò magnifica cujus haud exiguam partem Gulielmus ibidem Episcopus liberalitate sua extruxerat nec diu operi perfecto superfuit He died the 25. of Ianuary 1261. 12. The Chanons meeting to choose a successor condescended upon Nicole Moffet Archdeacon of Teviot-dale yet shortly after forthinking their election they procured the same to be cassed at Rome whither he was gone to obtain Confirmation Thereupon Iohn de Chyan an English man was by the Pope provided to the See whom King Alexander the third admitted with great difficulty This man is said to have been learned but very troublesome to the Chanons upon whom he laid grievous impositions The discord betwixt him and them waxing hot he left the countrey and going to France died there in the year 1268. 13. Nicole Moffet Archdeacon of Teviot-dale was upon his death provided to the See notwithstanding the opposition of the Chanons but he lived a short time and died at Tannigham of the Apoplexie He was no lesse hated of his Clergy whom he is said to vex with many injuries 14. William Wishart Archdeacon of S. Andrews and Chancellor of the Kingdome was chosen of the Chanons in the year 1270. but S. Andrews falling void by the death of Gamelinus before his consecration he was postulated thereto and so returned to S. Andrews 15. Robert Wishart Archdeacon of Lothian and Cousen to the said VVilliam was upon his change by the Kings recommendation admitted to the place This is he who made that reply to King Edward in the consultation held at Norham for the right of the
Crown whereof we spake in the life of VVilliam Fraser Bishop of S. Andrews a worthy man and a great lover of his countrey for which he suffered much trouble being made prisoner and sent unto London where he was kept some years afterwards obtaining liberty he returned to his See and therein performed many good works he died the 26. of November 1316. and was buried in the Church of Glasgow betwixt the altars of S. Peter and S. Andrew 16. Iohn Lindesay succeeded a man given much to the adorning of his Church he died the ninth of April 1325. and was buried in the Cathedrall nigh to the Altar of the Blessed Virgin 17. Mr. Stephen Dundy was the same year elected Bishop and going to Rome to be confirmed died by the way not without suspicion of poison given him at a feast made by the Friers predicant of Glasgow 18. In his place was chosen Iohn Wishart who in his return from Rome was taken prisoner by the English and died some few dayes after 19. William Rae a good and zealous man was after him chosen by the consent of the whole Chapter he redeemed the possessions of the Church which his predecessors had alienated built the stone bridge at Glasgow and having done many good works died in the year 1367. 20. After his death Walter Wardlaw succeeded Pope Urban the sixth did preferre him to bee Cardinal in the year 1384. and in the third year after he died 21. Then was Mr. Matthew Glendouning provided to the place In his time the steeple which was all built of timber was burnt by lightning in place whereof he intended to build one of stone and made therefore great preparation but was prevented by death in the year 1408. 22. His successor VVilliam Lawder finished the work he was Chancellor of Scotland and without the Chapters election provided by the Pope of meer authority which was never done in that See before 23. After him Iohn Cameron was Bishop a man given to violence and oppression who committing many deeds full of cruelty and covetousnesse especially upon his own Tenants and Vassals made as the fame goeth a fearful and unhappy end for in the year 1446. the night before Christmas day as he lay asleep in his house of Lockwood some seven miles from the City of Glasgow he seemed to hear a voice summoning him to appear before the tribunal of Christ and give an accompt of his doings Thereupon he awak't and being greatly terrified did call his servants to bring lights and sit by him he himself took a book in his hand and began to read but the voice being again heard struck all the servants with amazement The same voice calling the third time farre lowder and more fearfully the Bishop after a heavy groane was found dead in the bed his tongue hanging out of his mouth This reported by Buchannan almost in the same words I thought good to remember as a notable example of Gods judgement against the crying sin of oppression 24. To Cameron succeeded Iames Bruce who was translated from Dunkeld to this See in the year 1446. and preferred to be Chancellour of the Kingdome 25. After him Mr. VVilliam Turnbull others called him David was chosen Bishop he founded the Colledge of Glasgow 26. Upon his death Andrew Moorehead was elected The hospital near the Castle was his foundation 27. To Moorehead succeeded Iohn Lang who was Chancellour of Scotland 28. He dying Mr. George Carmighal was promoved but not consecrated for he died going to Rome for Confirmation 29. Robert Blacader Bishop of Aberdene was after his death translated to this See In his time was the See of Glasgow erected into an Archbishoprick for which arose a great contention betwixt Shevez Archbishop of S. Andrewes and him which was after some treaty pacified and Galloway Argyle and Isles appointed Suffragans to Glasgow He lived untill the yeare 1500. at what time taking his journey toward Ierusalem he departed this life in the way thither 30. Mr. Iames Beaton upon his death was preferred and sate Bishop twenty two yeares thereafter he was translated to S. Andrewes of whom you may there read 31. Mr. Gawan Dumbar tutour to the King upon his translation was promoved a good and learned man he was afterwards made Chancellour of the Kingdome and administred the office with good commendation 32. Mr. Iames Beaton succeeded after his death in whose time the Reformation fell forth and of him we shall have occasion afterwards to speak The Bishops of GALLOWAY 1. Sâ— Ninnian had his chiefe abode in the countrey of Galloway and built there a Church all of white stone which was therefore called Candida casa and to this day in the countrey language Whitherne as you would say a white house he is accompted the first Bishop of this See 2. In the year 631. one Plechelmus Beda calleth him Pectelmus was here Bishop 3. Frithwoldus succeeded to him and died in the year 768. 4. After him Pethumus who deceased anno 778. 5. Then Ethelbert 6. And after him Baldulphus Further mention I find not of any Bishop in this See in those first times and it seems it hath been quite decayed before Malcolm the third restored the same In the latter times I read only of these following 7. Iohn Bishop of Galloway who resigned his charge and became a Monk in the Abbey of Halirudhouse 8. Thomas Spence translated from Galloway to Aberdene in the year 1458. 9. David who was also Dean of the Kings Chappel 10. Alexander 11. Henry 12. George 13. And Bishop ... Gordon who lived at the Reformation and embraced the truth The Bishops of ARGYLE This Bishoprick was part of the Dioces of Dunkeld untill Iohn Scot Bishop thereof obtained of Pope Clement the third a division of the Bishoprick as you may read in the Catalogue of the Bishops of Dunkeld 1. Then was Evaldus or Harold his Chaplain consecrated Bishop and the seat appointed to be at Lismore within the countrey of Argyle whence the Bishop of this See is styled Lismorensis Episcopus this erection was made in the year 1200. 2. To Harold succeeded William who perished by a tempest at Sea in the year 1240. 3. And to him another of the same name 4. Then David who was Bishop in the year 1330. 5. In the year 1425. one Finlaw Bishop of Argyle Vir ordinis Dominicani as Buchannan saith upon the apprehension of Duke Murdach joyned with the Dukes youngest sonne against King Iames the first and fled with him into Ireland The King complaining of him to Pope Martin the fifth he gave Commission to the Bishops of S. Andrewes and Dumblane to call him before them and finding him guilty to depose him from the place but he in the mean time died in Ireland 6. So by the provision George Laird of Balcomie in Fife was preferred to the See how long he lived Bishop and who succeeded since his time I have not learned The Bishops of the ISLES
in preparing his apparel Mean while the Ambassadours had a watchword given them not to see nor salute him And such of the Nobility as were known to bear him any favour or out of their compassion did vouchsafe him a visit were frowned upon by the Court His Father advertised of these things sent for him to come unto Glasgow where he then remained but scarce was he past a mile from Striveling when a vehement pain seised on all the parts of his body which at his coming to Glasgow was manifestly perceived to proceed of poison that treacherously had been ministred unto him for through all his body brake out blisters of a blewish colour with such a dolour and vexation in all his parts as nothing but death was a long time expected Yet his youth and natural strength vanquishing the force of the poison he began a little to convalesce and put his enemies to other shifts wherein shortly after but to their own undoing they prevailed The report of what passed at Striveling coming to Edinburgh where the Assembly of the Church was then gathered did greatly offend the better sort yet nothing grieved them so much as a Commission granted to the Archbishop of S. Andrews whereby he was reponed to his ancient jurisdiction in confirming Testaments giving collation to Benefices and other such things as were judged in the spiritual Courts The Assembly taking this greatly to heart ordained a supplication to be made to the Nobility and Lords of secret Councel professing Christ with them and who had renounced the Romane Antichrist I use the words of the superscription for impeding the said Commission and letting it to take effect In this supplication they said That the causes judged in these Courts did for the most part pertain to the true Church and that howsoever in hope of some good effect to have followed the Church had overseen the Commission granted by the Queen in these matters to men who for the greater number were of their own profession they would never be content that he whom they knew to be an enemy to Christ and his truth should exerce that jurisdiction seeing under the colour thereof he might usurp again his own authority and take upon him the judgement of heresie in which case none could be ignorant what his sentence could be wherefore their desire was the Queen should be informed that this was a violation of the laws of the Realm and the setting up again of the Romane Antichrist whose authority and usurped power in an open and free Parliament had been condemned which her Majesty also at her first arriving into this Realm and since that time by divers Proclamations had expressely forbidden to be acknowledged here of they said if their honours should plainly and boldly admonish the Queen using that reverence which was due from Subjects and doing nothing in a tumult they did perswade themselves she would do nothing against Justice and that such Tyrants should not dare once to appear in Judgement But howsoever matters went they humbly craved to understand their minds and what they would do if it should happen such wolfes to invade the flock of Christ. This the summe of the supplication I find not what answer it received nor that the Bishop made any use of his Commission but the change it seems which shortly after happened in the State did quite frustrate the same Master Knox being licenced at this time to visit his sons who were following their studies at Cambridge did move the Assembly to write unto the Bishops of England in favour of some Preachers who were troubled for not conforming themselves to the Orders of that Church Because it will appear by the letter in what esteem our reformers did hold the Church of England and how farre they were from accounting the government thereof Antichristian I thought meet to insert the same word by word The Superintendents Ministers and Commissioners of the Church within the Realm of Scotland to their Brethren the Bishops and Pastors of England who have renounced the Romane Antichrist and do professe with them the Lord Iesus in sincerity wish the increase of the holy Spirit BY word and writing it is come to our knowledge Reverend Pastors that divers of our brethren amongst whom some be of the best learned within that Realm are deprived from all Ecclesiastical function and forbidden to preach and so by you are stayed to promove the Kingdome of Iesus Christ because their conscience will not suffer them to take upon them at the commandment of the authority such garments as Idolaters in time of blindness have used in their idolatrous service which rumour cannot but be most dolorous to our hearts considering the sentence of the Apostle If ye bite and devour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another We purpose not at the present to enter into the Question which we hear is agitated with greater vehemencie by either party then well liketh us to wit whether such apparel is to be accounted amongst things indifferent or not But in the bowels of Iesus Christ we crave that Christian charity may so far prevail with you that are the Pastors and guides of Christs flock in that Realm as ye do not to others that which ye would not others did unto you Ye cannot be ignorant how tender a thing Conscience is and all that have knowledge are not alike perswaded your conscience stirres not with the wearing of such things but many thousands both godly and learned are otherwise perswaded whose consciences are continually stricken with these sentences What hath Christ to do with Belial what fellowship is there betwixt light and darknesse If Surplice Corner-cap and Tippet have been the badges of Idolaters in the very act of their Idolatry what have the Preachers of Christian liberty and the rebukers of superstition to do with the dregges of that Romane beast yea what is he that ought not to fear either to take in his hand or forehead the print and mark of that odious beast Our brethren that refuse such unprofitable apparel do neither damne nor molest you who use such vain trifles if ye shall do the like to them we doubt not therein you shall please God and comfort the hearts of many which are wounded with the extremity used against those godly brethren Colour of Rhetorick or humane perswasion we use none but charitably we desire you to call to mind the sentence of S. Peter Feed the flock of God which is committed to your charge caring for it not by constraint but willingly not as being Lords of Gods heritage but being examples to the flock We further desire you to meditate upon that sentence of the Apostle Give not offence either to the Iewes or to the Grecians or to the Church of God In what condition ye and we both travel for the promoving of Christs Kingdom ye are not ignorant therefore we are the more bold to exhort you to
whether all they that had taken Armes against the King and not sued for pardon should be forfeited or if sentence should be given against a few only to terrify the rest and hope of favour left unto others upon their obedience Secretary Lethington who did secretly favour the other faction maintained the calmest course to be the best and by the perswasions he used wrought so as the processe against the better sort was continued and some of meaner note only proscribed which was interpreted even as the Regent conceived to proceed of fear and not of a mind to reclaim them The Earl of Rothes only of all the Noblemen of that side reconciled himself accepting three years exile for his punishment Some others of meaner sort the Regent received into favour and such as stood out he pursued by force of Armes making an expedition into the countries of Nidisdale Annandale and the lower parts of Galloway where he put Garisons in the Castles and strong Forts that were judged necessary to be kept others he demolished threw to the ground and had in a short space as it was thought reduced the whole countrey to his obedience if he had not been stayed by other letters by the Queen of England for the offending that he should have gone on in that manner whereas she had willed him to deferre all things till she was informed of the whole cause sent by one of her servants called Middlemore a sharp letter unto him declaring that she would not endure the sacred authority of Kings to be in that sort abused at the appetite of factious subjects and howsoever they had forgot their duties to their Soveraign she would not neglect her sister and neighbour Queen Therefore willed him to direct certain Commissioners to enform her how matters had passed men that could answer the complaints made by the Queen of Scotland against him and his complices which if he failed to do she would restore her to her Kingdome with all the power she could make The Regent took it grievously that matters determined in Parliament should be brought again in question and to plead before forain Judges he held it dishonourable yet considering the adversaries he had the Cardinal of Lorain abroad who swayed all things in the French Court and at home many of the Nobility and that if he did offend the Queen of England his difficulties should be every way great he was glad to yield to the conditions required though against his will Thus it being condescended the Commissioners should be sent when as they could not agree upon the persons the principal Noblemen refusing the imployment the Regent himself offered to undertake the journey and to accompany him choice was made of the Bishop of Orkney and Abbot of Dunfermlin for the spiritual estate of the Earl of Morton and Lord Lindesay for the temporal and of Mr. Iames Macgill and Mr. Henry Balnaves Senators of the Colledge of Justice besides these there went with him Secretary Lethington and Mr. George Buchannan The Secretary had long withstood the sending of any Commissioners thither and simply refused to go in that journey yet the Regent not holding it safe to leave him at home whom he knew to be a busie man and a practiser under-hand with the other party did insist so with him as in end he consented The Commission was given in the Kings name under the Great Seal to the Regent the Earl of Morton the Bishop of Orkney the Abbot of Dunfermlin and Lord Lindesay or to any three of them for convening with the deputies of the Queen of England at York or any other place or places they should think expedient there to make plain and ample declarations to them I keep the very words of the Commission for informing his good sister of the true causes whereupon divers of the Nobility and good subjects during the time that the Queen his Mother was yet possessor of the Crown took occasion to put on Armes to take detain and sequestrate her person for a time with all causes actions circumstances and other their proceedings whatsoever towards her or any other subjects of the Realm since that time unto the day and date of the said Commission or that should fall out untill the return of the said Commissioners whereby the Justice of their cause and honourable dealing might be manifested to the world As likewise to commune treat determine and conclude with his said sister or her Commissioners having sufficient authority upon all differences causes or matters depending betwixt the subjects of either Realm or for further confirmation or augmentation of any treaty of peace heretofore made and concluded betwixt the Realms or for contracting and perfecting any other treaty or confederation as well maintenance of the true Religion publickly professed by the inhabitants of both the Realms as for resisting any forain or intestine power that might be stirred up within the same to disturb the present quietnesse that it hath pleased the Almighty God to grant unto both the Kingdomes in the unity of the said Religion and for increase of amity peace and concord betwixt him and his said sister their Realms dominions people and subjects And generally to do and conclude all things which by them or any three of them should seem convenient and necessary for the premises or any part thereof promising to hold firm and stable c. This Commission is of the date aâ— Edinburgh the 18th of September 1568. In Iuly preceding there was an Assembly of the Church kept at Edinburgh wherein Mr. Iohn Willock Superintendent of the west being elected to moderate the meeting made difficulty to accept the place unlesse some better order was observed then had been in former times for even then the multitudes that convened and indiscreet behaviour of some who loved to seem more zealous then others did cause a great confusion Obedience being promised by the whole number he assumed the Charge And there it was enacted That none should be admitted to have voice in these Assemblies but Superintendents Visiters of Churches Commissioners of Shires and Universities and such Ministers as the Superintendents should chuse in their Diocesan Synods and bring with them being men of knowledge and able to reasâ—n and judge of matters that should happen to be proponed And that the Assembly should not be troubled with unnecessary businesse it was ordained That no matters should be moved which the Superintendents might and ought to determine in their Synods Some Acts of discipline were also concluded as that Papists continuing obstinate after lawful admonitions should be excommunicated and that the committers of murther incest adultery and other such hainous crimes should not be admitted to make satisfaction by any particular Church till they did first appear in the habit of penitents before the general assembly and there receive their injunctions A supplication also was put up to the Regent and Councel wherein amongst other
himself strong enough with the supply he had obtained made out to search and pursue his enemies Adam Gordon lay then at Aberdene and being advertised that the Forbesses were drawing near to the City he went forth to meet them The encounter at the beginning was sharp and furious but the Forbesses were young men for the greatest part of small experience and not under command and the souldiers not being well seconded by them after they had fought a while gave over and yielded The slaughter was not great for the conflict happened in the evening which helpt many to escape Captain Chisholm with most of his company and some 15. of the name of Forbes were killed the Master of Forbes and some others were taken prisoners This good successe of the Queens party in the North gave hearts to all the faction and now they began every where to take new courage In the South the Lairds of Fernherst and Bacleugh did affail Iedburgh a little town but very constant in maintaining the Kings authority Lord Claud Hamilton belyed Paslay The Castle of Braughtie on the river of Tay was surprised by ... Seaton of Perbroath and in divers other parts troubles were raised of purpose to divide the Regents forces and to withdraw him from Leth that the town of Edinburgh which was then in some scarcity of victuals might be relieved In the moneth of Ianuary an assembly of the Church convened at Leth where after great instance made with the Regent and Councel for setling the policy of the Church it was agreed that six of the Councel and as many of the Assembly should be selected to treat reason and conclude upon that businesse For the Councel Iames Earl of Morton Chancellour William Lord Ruthven Treasurer Robert Abbot of Dunfermlin Secretary Mr. Iames Macgill Keeper of the Rolls Sir Iohn Bellenden Justice Clerk and Colin Campbel of Glenorchy were named and for the Church Iohn Ereskin of Dun Superintendent of Angus Mr. Iohn Winraine Superintendent of Fife Mr. Andrew Hay Commissioner of Claddisdale Mr. David Lindesay Commissioner of the West Mr. Robert Pont Commissioner of Orkney and Mr. Iohn Craig one of the Ministers of Edinburgh These twelve convening after divers meetings and long deliberation grew to the conclusions following 1. That the Archbishopricks and Bishopricks presently void should be disponed to the most qualified of the Ministery 2. That the spiritual jurisdiction should be exerced by the Bishops in their Dioces 3. That all Abbots Priors and other inferiour Prelates who should happen to be presented to Benefices should be tried by the Bishop or Superintendent of the bounds concerning their qualification and aptnesse to give voice for the Church in Parliament and upon their collation be admitted to the Benefice and not otherwise 4. That so the Bishopricks presently void or that should happen hereafter to fall the King and the Regent should recommend fit and qualified persons and their elections to be made by the Chapters of the Cathedral Churches And forasmuch as divers of the Chapters Churches were possessed by men provided before his Majesties Coronation who bare no office in the Church a particular nomination should be made of Ministers in every Dioces to supply their rooms untill the Benefices should fall void 5. That all Benefices of Cure under Prelacies should be disponed to actual Ministers and to no others 6. That the Ministers should receive Ordination from the Bishop of the Dioces and where no Bishop was as yet placed from the Superintendent of the bounds 7. That the Bishops and Superintendents at the Ordination of Ministers should exact of them an oath for acknowledging his Majesties authority and for obedience to their Ordinary in all things lawful according to the form then condescended Order also was taken for disposing of Provestries Colledge charges and Chaplanries and divers other particulars most profitable for the Church as in the records extant may be seen which were all ordained to stand in force untill the Kings majority or till the Estates of the Realm should otherwise appoint In August thereafter the Assembly of the Church meeting again at Perth report was made of these conclusions and exception taken by some at the titles of Archbishop Dean Archdeacon Chancellor and Chapter as being Popish and offensive to the ears of good Christians whereupon it was declared that by using these titles they meant not to allow of Popish superstition in any sort wishing the same to be changed in others not so scandalous As the name of Bishop to be hereafter used for Archbishop the Chapter to be called The Bishops assembly the Dean to be called The Moderator of the said assembly And for the titles of Archdeacon Chancellour Abbot and Prior that some should be appointed to consider how farre these functions did extend and give their opinion for the interchange thereof with others more agreeable to the Word and the policy of the best reformed Churches reporting their opinions at the next Assembly But I do not find that any such report was made like it is the wiser sort esteemed there was no cause to stumble at titles where the office was thought necessary and lawful A protestation always was made that they received these Articles for an interim till a more perfect order might be obtained at the King his Regent and the Nobilities hands According to these conclusions Mr. Iohn Douglas Provost of the New Colledge of S. Andrews was provided to the Archbishoprick of that See Mr. Iames Boyd to the Archbishoprick of Glasgow Mr. Iames Paton to the Bishoprick of Dunkeld and Mr. Andrew Ghram to the Bishoprick of Dumblane About the end of Ianuary the Regent advertised of the peril wherein the town of Iedburgh stood and of the great preparation that Fernherst and Bacleugh made to surprise it for they had besides their own forces drawn all the people of Esk Ewis and Liddesdale to joyn with them in hope of spoil and from the English Borders divers that were given to robbery to the number of 3000. and above sent the Lord Ruthven with some forces to defend them Before his coming Walter Ker of Cesford a man of good worth who had ever assisted the Kings party was joyned with them Their enemies notthelesse esteeming themselves strong enough by reason of their numbers went forwards with an assurance of victory The Lord Ruthven having notice given him by the way of their diet and the time they had appointed to invade the town did use the more speed and came in sight thereof just as the enemies appeared They fearing to be inclosed betwixt the town who shewed themselves in the fields ready to fight and the forces the Lord Ruthven brought with him did presently retire and give back Fernherst and Bacleugh went to Hawick and were followed the next day by the Lord Ruthven who came upon them so unlooked for as they were cast into a great fear The principals that had horses fled away
stirred up Iohn Dury one of the Ministers of Edinburgh in an Assembly which was then convened to propound a question touching the lawfulness of the Episcopal function and the authority of â—hapters in their election He himself as though he had not been acquainted with the motion after he had commended the Speakers zeal and seconded the purpose with a long discourse of the flourishing estate of the Church of Geneva and the opinions of Calvin and Theodore Beze concerning Church Government came to affirm That none ought to be office bearers in the Church whose titles were not found in the book of God And for the title of Bishops albeit the same was found in Scripture yet was it not to be taken in the sense that the common sort did conceive there being no superiority allowed by Christ amongst Ministers he being the only Lord of his Church and all the same servants in the same degree and having the like power In end he said that the corruptions crept into the estate of Bishops were so great as unlesse the same were removed it could not go well with the Church nor could Religion be long preserved in purity This his discourse was applauded by many and some brethren set apart to reason and conferre upon the question proponed For the one part Mr. David Lindesay Mr. George Hay and Mr. Iohn Row were nominated These three sustained the lawfulness of Episcopal function in the Church For the other part Mr. Iames Lawson Mr. Iohn Craig and Mr. Andrew Melvil were chosed to impugne the same After divers meetings and long disceptation amongst themselves they presented their opinions to the Assembly in writing as followeth 1. First that they did not hold it expedient to answer the questions proponed for the present But if any Bishop was chosen that had not qualities required by the word of God he should be tried by the General Assembly 2. That they judged the name of a Bishop to be common to all Mininisters that had the charge of a particular flock And that by the word of God his chief function consisted in the preaching of the word the ministration of the Sacraments and exercise of Ecclesiastical discipline with consent of his Elders 3. That from among the Ministers some one might be chosen to oversee and visit such reasonable bounds besides his own flock as the General Assembly should appoint 4. That the Minister so elected might in those bounds appoint Preachers with the advice of the Ministers of that Province and the consent of the flock which they should be admitted And fiftly that he might suspend Ministers from the exercise of their office upon reasonable causes with the consent of the Ministers of the bounds There were present in this Assembly the Archbishop of Glasgow the Bishop of Dunkeld Galloway Brichen Dumblane and Isles with the Superintendents of Lothian and Angus all of them interessed in that business Yet neither were they called to the conference nor doth it appear by the Register of those proceedings that they did so much as open their mouthes in defence of their office and calling What respect soever it was that made them keep so quiet whether as I have heard that they expected those motions should have been dashed by the Regent or otherwise that they affected the praise of humility it was no wisdom in them to have given a way to such novelties and have suffered the lawfulnesse of their vocation to be thus drawn in question In the next Assembly I find the same matter moved of new and put to voices but with a little change of the question which was thus formed Whether Bishops as they were then in Scotland had their function warranted by the word of God The Assembly without giving a direct answer after long reasoning did for the greatest part so the records bear approve the opinions presented in the last meeting with this addition That the Bishops should take themselves to the service of some one Church within their Dioces and condescend upon the particular flocks whereof they would accept the charge The Regent hearing how the Church had proceeded and taking ill the deposition of Mr. Iames Patton Bishop of Dunkeld who was in the former Assembly deprived for dilapidation of his benefice sent to require of them whether they would stand to the policy agreed unto at Leth and if not to desire them to settle upon some form of government at which they would abide The Assembly taking the advantage of this proposition answered that they were to think of that business and should with all diligence set down a constant form of Church policy and present the same to be allowed by the Councel To this effect they nominated Mr. Andrew Melvil Mr. Andrew Hay Mr. David Cuningham Mr. George Hay Mr. Alexander Arthbuthnet Mr. David Lindesay and a number more the Archbishop of Glasgow was named amongst the rest but he being urged to take the charge of a particular flock excused himself saying That he had entered to his office according to the order taken by the Church and Estates and could do nothing contrary therâ—to lest he should be thought to have transgressed his oath and be challenged for altering a member of the Estate Yet that it might appear how willing he was to bestow the gifts wherewith God had endued him to the good of the Church he should teach ordinarily at Glasgow when he had his residence in the City and when he remained in the Sheriffdome of Aire he should do the like in any Church they would appoint but without astricting himself unto thesame and prejudging in any sort the jurisdiction he had received at his admission This his declaration made he was no more troubled with that imployment Mean while the See of S. Andrews falling void by the death of Mr. Iohn Douglas the Regent did recommend to the Chapter his Chaplain Mr. Patrick Adamson for the place the Chapter continuing the election till the Assembly of the Church did convene imparted to them the warrant they had received and Mr. Patrick being enquired for he was present at the time whether he would submit himself to trial and receive the office with those injunctions the Church would prescrive Answered that he was discharged by the Regent to accept the office otherwise then was appointed by mutual consent of the Church and Estate Hereupon the Chaptour was inhibited to proceed Notthelesse upon a new charge given them they convened and made choice of him which did so irritate the Church as in the next meeting they gave Commission to the Superintendent of Lothian Mr. Robert Pont Mr. Iames Lawson and David Ferguson to call him before them and prohibit him to exerce any part of his jurisdiction till he should be authorised thereto by the Assembly A form of Church policy was in the mean time drawn up and presented to the Regent by Mr. David Lindesay Mr. Iames Lawson
gave not an end to the business for how soon he returned to the Court and perceived the King countenance cast down upon him for that he had done he undertook of new to settle himself at Glasgow and had letters from his Majesty to the Gentlemen of those parts to assist him At his coming to Glasgow with purpose to preach the Sunday following a number of the Students in the Colledge entered into the Church on Saturday at night and excluding him did keep the Chair for Mr. Thomas Smeton their Principal who taking for his Theam that saying in the Gospel He that enters not by the door but by the window is a thief and a robber inveighed against the Bishop for his simonaical entry and the levity he had shewed in all his proceedings The next Sunday the Bishop with a great convocation of Gentlemen came to the Church and displacing the ordinary Preacher Mr. David Weymes made the Sermon himself The Presbytery of Glasgow intending proces against him for molestation of the Church and usurping the place of the ordinary Preacher Matthew Stewart of Minto Provost of the City came and presented a Warrant from the King to stay all proceedings against the Bishop willing them to desist Mr. Iohn Howeson Minister of Cambustange moderating in his course as the custome then was and replying somewhat peremptorily that notwithstanding his Warrant they would proceed some words of offence passed whereupon the Provost pulling him from the Seat made him prisoner in the Tolbuith The rumour of this fact ran quickly through the Kingdom and a solemn fast being kept by the appointment of the former Assembly the causes whereof were made to be the abundance of sin the oppression of the Church the dilapidation of the rents and the danger wherein the King stood by the company of wicked persons who did seek to corrupt him in manners and Religion the insolency committed at Glasgow was likewise adjected and furnished matter of long discourse to the Preachers Amongst others Iohn Dury did exclaime mightily against the Duke of Lennox upon whom the blame of all things was laid and thereby did so irritate the King as he would needs have him removed forth of the Town Charges to that effect were directed commanding the Magistrates within the space of 24. houres to remove him who not daring disobey yet being unwilling to use their Minister in that sort travelled with him to depart quietly and leave the Town The Minister proponing the case to the General Assembly for upon advertisement given by the Ministers of Edinburgh they were there convened desired their advice for to leave his flock at the pleasure of the Court he said might work a prejudice to the Church and to depart privately as the Magistrates advised him might be imputed to fear or then make him to be thought guilty of some fault The brethren after a short consultation did advise him to stay till he should be commanded to depart and then obey Mean while Mr. Thomas Buchannan and David Ferguson were sent to the King who was then at Striveling to intreat his Majesties favour unto him and therewith to request a continuation of the Diet for the appearing of the Ministers of Glasgow at Perth The King desiring to have matters quieted answered the last proposition first saying That if the Assembly would delay the proces which they had against the Provest of Glasgow and his assisters he would likewise dispense with the appearing of the Ministers at the appointed time And as to Iohn Dury he said that upon his suppliâ—ation how soon the Duke returned to Court whose interesse was greatest in that business order should be taken with him and consideration had of the Assemblies request But they not satisfied herewith striving to make good what they had taken in hand went on with the proces of Glasgow and leading probation against Minto and the rest decerned them to be excommunicated and cast forth of the society of the Church onely the pronouncing of the sentence was delayed till they saw what course was kept with their brethren before the Councel Mr. Iohn Davidson then Minister at Liberton pretending a warrant from the Church had in his private Parish pronounced Bishop Montgomery excommunicate which albeit done against all form was allowed and intimated in all the Churches of the countrey The Duke of Lennox notwithstanding did still entertain him in his company and at some occasions had made him to preach publickly Thereupon Mr. Alexander Archbuthnet and Mr. Adam Iohnston were directed by the Assembly to intimate unto the Duke his excommunication and the Acts of the Church against such as kept excommunicate persons in their company The Duke taking them up somewhat hotly asked them Whether the King or the Church were superiours and thereafter answered them directly That he was commanded by the King and Councel to entertain him which he would not forbear to do for any fear he had of their censures This amongst other grievances of the Church was ordained to be represented to his Majesty by the Commissioners appointed to attend the Councel at Perth But touching this the King answered That the excommunication was null and declared such by the Councel as being pronounced against equity and all lawful form no citation being used nor any admonition preceding which all lawes and even their own discipline appointed to be observed To their other grievances they received general answers and for the brethren of Glasgow their trial was continued to the tenth of September next Before which time the surprise of the Kings person at Ruthven fell out which altered the state of all affairs some of the Nobility combining themselves for defence of Religion and the liberty of the Kingdom as they pretended upon notice of the Duke of Arrans absence from the Court placed themselves about the King and detained him some dayes at the house of Ruthven The principals in this attempt were Iohn Earl of Marre William Earl of Gowry Patrick Lord Lindesay Robert Lord Boyd the Masters of Glammis and Oliphant the Abbots of Dunfermlin Paisley Driburgh and Cambush keneth the Lairds of Lochlevin Easter Weemes Cleish and the Constable of Dundy The King at their first coming suspected there was some practise in hand yet dissembled the matter thinking to free himself the next day when he went abroad to his sport but as he was about to go the Master of Glammit stept to the dore of the Parlour and told him he must stay The King askt the reason he answered he should know it shortly When he saw it to be so and found his liberty restrained he grew into a passion and after some threatening speeches burst forth in tears The Master seeing him weep said It is no matter of his tears better that bairnes should weep then bearded men which words entered so deeply into the Kings heart as he did never forget them The newes went quickly of the
he not charged with this nor seemed he to be touched therewith in his death which to the judgement of the beholders was very peaceable and quiet He was heard to make that common regret which many great men have done in such misfortunes That if he had served God as faithfully as he had done the King he had not come to that end but otherwise died patiently with a contempt of the world and assurance of mercy at the hands of God The same day Archibald Douglas called the Constable and Mr. Iohn Forbes servant to the Earl of Marre were executed the rest who were taken in the Castle had their lives spared and were banished the countrey and David Home of Argaty and one Iohn Shaw were pardoned The King after this returned to Edinburgh where he gave order for charging the houses of the fugitive Lords and their friends and upon information made that certain of the Ministery had dealing with the Rebels summons were directed to charge Mr. Andrew Hay Parson of Ranfrew Mr. Andrew Polwart Subdean of Glasgow Mr. Patrick Galloway and Mr. Iames Carmichael Ministers to compeir before the Councel Mr. Andrew Hay compeired and nothing being qualified against him was upon suspicion confined in the North. The other three not compeiring were denounced Rebels and fled into England The Parliament declared current at the time for the more speedy dispatch of businesse convened the 22. of May In it his Majesties declaration concerning the attempt of Ruthven was ratified The King his authority over all persons in all causes confirmed The declining of his Majesties judgement and the Councels in whatsoever matter declared to be Treason The impugning of the authority of the three Estates or procuring the innovation or diminution of the power of any of them inhibited under the same pain All jurisdictions and judicatures spiritual or temporal not approved of by his Highnesse and the three Estates discharged and an Ordinance made That none of whatsoever function quality or degree should presume privately or publickly in Sermons Declamations or familiar conferences to utter any false untrue or slanderous speeches to the reproach of his Majesty his Councel and proceedings or to the dishonour hurt or prejudice of his Highnesse his parents and progenitors or to meddle with the affaires of his Highnesse and Estate under the pains contained in the Acts of Parliaments made against the makers and reporters of lies Whilest these statutes were in framing the Ministers who were informed thereof to work at least a delay sent Mr. David Lindesay to intreat the King that nothing should pass in Act concerning the Church till they were first heard Arran getting intelligence of this caused arrest him as one that kept intelligence with England so as he was not permitted to come towards the King The first night he was kept in Halirudhouse and the next morning sent prisoner to Blackness where he was detained 47. weeks Mr. Iames Lawson and Mr. Walter Balcanquell Ministers of Edinburgh hearing that he was committed forsook their charge and fled into England leaving a short writing behind them to shew the reasons of their departing Iohn Dury some weeks before was removed and confined in the Town of Montrosse so as Edinburgh was left without any Preacher Mr. Robert Pont Minister of S. Cutberts and one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice because of the misregard of the Church as he pretended in concluding these Acts as the Heraulds were proclaiming them according to the Custome took instruments in the hands of a Notary of the Churches disassenting and that they were not obliged to give their obedience thereto which done he likewise fleeing was denounced Rebel and put from the place in Session Rumours hereupon being dispersed that the King was declined to Popery had made divers Acts to hinder the free passage of the Gospel and abolish all order and policy in the Church Command was given to form a brief declaration of his Majesties intention in those Acts that concerned the Church and to publish the same for detecting the falshood of those rumours In this declaration the occasions that enforced the King to the making of these statutes were particularly set down and the equity thereof maintained by divers reasons Amongst the occasions were reckoned the allowance of the fact of Ruthven by the assembly of the Church Mr. Andrew Melvil his declining of the King and Councel the fast kept at the feasting of the French Ambassadors general fasts indicted through the Realm without the King his knowledge the usurping of the Ecclesiastical jurisdiction by a number of Ministers and Gentlemen the alteration of the lawes at their pleasure and a number of like abuses And for satisfying good people strangers as well as subjects touching his Majesties good affection towards the maintenance of Religion certain Articles were drawn up and subjoyned to the said Declaration to make it appear that his Majesty had intended nothing but to have a setled form of policy established in the Church But these things gave not much satisfaction so great was the discontent and were replied unto in Pamphlets defamatory libels and scurril poems which daily came forth against the Court and the rulers of it To furnish the vacant places of Edinburgh till some were moved to undertake the charge the King did appoint his own Ministers Mr. Iohn Craig and Mr. Iohn Duncanson the Archbishop of Saint Andrews supplying the ordinary preaching at Court Soon after there came a letter from the Ministers directed to the Session of the Church at Edinburgh and to the Councel of the town of this tenour That seeing they were assured many calumnies would be forged against them for absenting themselves from their flock they had good to write unto them the true causes thereof which were as they said The great indignation conceived against them by the rulers of the Court for resisting the dangerous courses then in hand the Acts made in the late Parliament repugnant to the word of God and doctrine oftentimes by them preached the iniquity committed in the passing the said Acts and violence wherein they were defended the Articles penned and presented to some Ministers for submitting themselves to the tyrannical Regiment of Bishops whom they called gross libertines belly-gods and infamous the charge given to the Provost and Bayliffes of Edinburgh to take and apprehend all Ministers that should convene to the Eldership and those that in Sermon should utter any thing against the Acts and present unhappy course with the insolent words cast forth against them That if they followed the same course they were in though their heads were as haystacks they should be laid at their heels These things they said did cast them in a grievous temptation for to go from their good course they could not unlesse they should be traitors to God to continue in it and stay would be counted treason against the King and be hazardous of their
matter to that time where in stead of examining the process or discussing the Bishops Appellation a transaction was made in this sort That the Bishop by his hand-writing or personal appearance in the Assembly should deny that ever he publickly professed or meaned to claim any supremacy or to be Judge over other Pastors and Ministers or yet avowed the same to have a ground in Gods word and if so he had done it had been an error against his conscience and knowledge That he should also deny that in the last Synodal Assembly he did claim to be Judge of the same and if he had done it that he erred therein and in his emperious behaviour and contempt of the said Synod That thirdly he should promise to behave himself better in time coming and crave pardon for any oversight by him committed claiming no further then justly he might by Gods word and in all other things carry himself as a moderate Pastor ought labouring to be the Bishop described by S. Paul submitting his life and doctrine to the judgment and censure of the general Assembly without any reclamation provocation or appellation from the same in any time coming That the Assembly on the other part for his Majesties satisfaction and to give testimony of their willing minds to obey his Highness so far as they could and in conscience they might and for the good hope they had of his Majesties favourable concurrence in building up the house of God should hold the said process and sentence as undeduced and not pronounced and restore the Bishop in so far as concerned the said process and sentence to the estate wherein he was before the pronouncing of the same especially because the said process was led and deduced during the time of the conference whereupon his Majesty had conceived offence with this proviso Always that the Bishop should observe what he promised in the premises and carry himself dutifully in his vocation in all times thereafter What should have moved the King to hearken to a mediation so prejudicial both to his own authority and the Episcopal jurisdiction which he laboured to establish cannot well be conjectured except we will think that by yeilding to the Churches advice in this particular he hoped to winne them in end to those things which served for his peace and their own quietnesse or which I rather believe that he did only temporise not seeing another way how to come by his ends and was content to keep them in any tolerable terms till he should find himself of power sufficient to redresse these confusions Whatsoever the reason was the Bishop did set his hand to the conditions proposed by the Assembly and received that declaratour for an absolution Yet did not this satisfy the adverse party who peremptorily urged the justifying of their process with the confirmation of the sentence they had pronounced which when they could not obtain the same Hunter that pronounced the sentence protested publickly against the Assemblies proceeding and that notwithstanding the absolution granted the Bishop should still be esteemed as one justly delivered to Satan till his conversion were seen to be true and effectual unto which protestation Mr. Andrew Melvil and Mr. Thomas Buchannan did adhere A motion was made in the same Assembly for censuring the Ministers that had allowed the Acts concluded in the Parliament 1584. by their subscriptions but they were found to be so many as it was feared the urging thereof would breed aschisme and division in the Church wherefore after some altercation the matter was left and all the Ministers exhorted to judge charitably one of another notwithstanding their diversity of opinions The Articles agreed upon in the conference with certain Ministers whereof the determination was remitted to this Assembly made more adoe for they having condescended to accept Bishops and to give them a chief hand in the government of Church affairs they always being subject to the censure of the general Assembly It was strongly opposed and after a long dispute concluded That in respect the Bishop was a Pastor as other ordinary Pastors are he should for matters of life and doctrine be tried by the Presbytery and Synod and for his Commission otherwise in Church affairs be subject to the general Assembly The Secretary Justice Clerk with the Lord Privy Seal and other Commissioners for the King disassented and made protestation That seeing the Assembly had gone from the Articles agreed upon in the conference nothing either then or at the present concluded should stand in force And thus were they like to dissolve but that Mr. Robert Pont Iames Martin and Patrick Galloway being directed to inform his Majesty of the difference things were drawn to this middest That the Bishops and others having Commission to visit Churches should be only subject to the trial of the general Assembly and such as had power from them till further order was taken And that where Bishops and Commissioners were resident they should preside in the meetings of Presbyteries and Synods Fife only excepted where Mr. Robert Wilkie was appointed to moderate the Presbytery of Saint Andrews untill the next Synod In the mean time was the order of the Presbyteries set down and their power defined the King taking no notice of their doings in that kind The Secretary who then supplied the place of Chancellor perceiving the King so vexed with the affairs of the Church and the Ministers so refractary and unwilling to be ruled did advise him to leave them to their own courses saying That in a short time they would become so intolerable as the people would chase them forth of the countrey True answered the King if I were purposed to undoe the Church and Religion I should think your counsel not ill but my mind is to maintain both therefore can I not suffer them run into these disorders that will make Religion to be despised This answer did shew the Kings love to the Church and his care of the good estate thereof which in this place I thought was not to be passed In the Estate matters went not much better at this time and amongst others nothing gave more offence then the acquitting of Mr. Archibald Douglas by form of Assise This man was known to be guilty of the murther of the King his Father and had fled into England six yeares before The Earl of Morton at his death and one Binny Mr. Archibalds own servant who was executed about the same time did both declare that he was present at the doing of that wicked fact for which the King had often by his letters and Ambassages intreated the Queen of England to have him delivered yet could not obtain it At this time a remission being purchased to him for the concealing of that murther with a letter of rehabilitation whereby he might stand in judgement and plead against his forfeiture he was in a Jury held the 26. of May declared innocent and absolved of the
of the 20 chap. of the Acts whereby he took occasion to prove out of the Scriptures and Fathers the supremacy of Bishops above Presbyters and to shew the inconveniencies of Parity in the Church with the confusion arising from the same Dr. Buckridge Bishop of Rochester took for his text the Precept of the Apostle Omnis anima c Rom. 13. 1. where falling to speak of the Kings supremacy in causes Ecclesiasticall he did handle that point both soundly and learnedly to the satisfaction of all the hearers only it grieved the Scots Ministers to hear the Pope and Presbyterie so often equalled in their opposition to soveraign Princes Dr. Andrews Bishop of Chichester followed who choosed for his text the first verses of the 10 chapter of Numbers confirming thirdly the power of Kings in Convocating Synods and Councells The fourth was Dr. King Bishop of London he took for his theam the 11 verse of the 8 chapter of Canticles and thereupon discoursing of the Office of Presbyters did prove lay Elders to have no place nor office in the Church and the late device to be without all warrant of Precept or example either in Scripture or in Antiquity This course his Majesty took as conceiving that some of the Ministers should be moved by force of reason to quit their opinions and give place to the truth but that seldome happeneth where the minde is prepossessed with prejudice either against person or matter The first audience was at Hampton the 22 of September at whichâ— besides the Bishops and Ministers from Scotland were present the Earls of Dunbarre Argile Glencarne Sir Thomas Hamilton Advocate and Sir Alexander Straiton Of the English Dr. Montague Dean of the Charpell was only admitted to stay There the King declaring the purpose for which he had called them spake a few words to this effect That having left the Church of Scotland in peace at his parting forth of it he did now hear of great disturbances in the same whereof he desired to understand the true cause and to have their advice how the same might best be removed This being said he the errand in generall for which I have called you I should be glad to hear your opinions touching that meeting at Aberdene where an handfull of Ministers in contempt of my authority and against the discharge given them did assemble and though they were neither a sufficient number nor the accustomed order kept they would take upon them to call it a generall Assembly and have since proudly maintained it by declining my Councell and such other means as they pleased to use The rather I would hear your minds because I am informed that divers Ministers doe justifie that meeting and in their publick preachings commend these brethren as persons distressed which in effect is to proclaim me a tyrant and Persecutor Mr. Iames Melvill answering first said that there was no such discharge given to those Ministers that met at Aberdene as was alledged adjuring Sir Alexander Straiton who was said to have given the charge to declare in his Majesties presence how that matter was carried As to the absence of Moderator and Clerk he said that none of these were essentiall parts of an Assembly and that the Moderator absenting himself of purpose and the Clerk refusing to serve the brethren convened might lawfully create others in their places so as the Ministers having warrant to convene from the word of God and from his Majesties laws as also coming thither by direction of their Presbyteries he could not in his conscience condemne them Well then said the King I shall desire you to answer me three things that I will ask First if it be lawfull to pray publickly for persons convicted by the lawfull Iudge as persons being in distress and aflicted 2 Whether I may not being a Christian King by my authority royall convocate and prorogue and desert for just and necessary causes known to myself any Assemblies or meetings within my Dominions 3 Whether or not may I by my authority-call and convene before me and my Councell whatsoever person or persons Civil or Ecclesiastial for whatsoever offences committed by them in whatsoever place within my Dominions and if I may not take cognition of the offence and give sontence therein And further whether or not are all my subjects being cited to answer before me and my Councell obliged to compeir and acknowledge me or them for judges in these offences Mr. Iames answering said that the questions were weighty and craved a great deliberation wherefore he would humbly entreat his Majesty to grant them a time to conferre and advise together that they might all give one direct answer This desire granted they were commanded to advise and meet together that night and be ready to answer the next day At this meeting the Earls of Salisbury and Northampton with divers of the English Clergy were present The Ministers desiring to have the meeting more private requested the Earl of Dumbarre to move the King therein and that none but Scotsmen should be present fearing as they said that some unseemly words might escape them But this was denied and they warned to speak with that respect which became subjects It was believed that the King should have begun with the questions proponed in the former meeting but his Majesty taking another course required them to declare one by one their judgements touching Aberdene Assembly The Bishops being first askt did all condemn the meeting as turbulent factious and unlawfull Mr. Andrew Melvill then being enquired made answer That he could not condemn the Assembly being a private man that he came into England upon his Majesties letter without any Commission from the Church of Scotland and though he had Commission in dicta causa and not hearing what they could say for themselves he could not give his judgement Sentence he said was given against them in a justice Court how justly he did remit that to the great Judge but for himself he would say as our Saviour did in another case Quis me constituit judicem Mr. Iames Balfoure being next asked Did pray his Majesty not to press him with any answer for that he knew nothing would be well taken that proceeded from his mouth and that Mr. Andrew had answered his minde sufficiently Mr. Iames Melvill without giving a direct answer began to tell That sinceâ— his coming to London he had received divers letters and with them a Petition that should have been presented to the late Parliament in behalf of the warded Ministers which he was desired to offer unto his Majesty and as he thought the Petition would make all their mindes known The King taking the Petition and falling to read the same willed the Advocate to goe on and receive the answer of the rest And as the Advocate was questioning Mr. William Scot and urging him with a distinct answer for he used many circumlocutions according to
is permitted or carry themselves unquietly either in teaching or otherwise at these meetings in that case the Bishop shall discharge the meeting and censure the offenders according to the quality of their fault 7 Considering that laick Elders have neither warrant in the Word nor example of the Primitive Church and that northeless it is expedient that some be appointed to assist the Minister in repairing the fabrick of the Church providing elements to the holy Communion and collecting the contributions for the poor with other necessary services the Minister is to make choice of the most wise and discreet persons in the Parish to that effect and present their names to the Ordinary that his approbation may be had thereto 8 That the Ministers of the Parish be authorized to call before them and his associates so allowed all publick and notorious offenders and enjoyn the satisfaction according to the Canons of the Church or if they be obstinate and contumacious declare their names to the Bishop that order may be taken with them 9 That no Minister be admitted without an exact triall preceding and imposition of hands used in their Ordination by the Bishop and two or three Ministers whom he shall call to assist the action and to the end an uniform order may be kept in the admission of Ministers that a form thereof may be imprinted and precisely followed of every Bishop 10 That the election of Bishops shall in time coming be made according to the conference Anno 1571. and whilest the Bishoprick remaineth void the Deane of the Chapter be Vicarius in omnibus ad Episcopatum perÃnentibus and have the custody of the Living and Rents till the same be of new provided 11 That the Deane of every Chapter convene thereof once at least in the year and take order that nothing pass except they be Capitulariter congregati and that a Register be made of every thing done by the Archbishop or Bishop in the administration of the Rents and safely in the Chapter house 12 That when it shall be thought expedient to call a generall Assembly a supplication be put up to his Majesty for license to convene and that the said Assembly consist of Bishops Deans Archdeacons and such of the Ministery as shall be selected by the rest 13 And because there hath been a generall abuse in that Church that youths having passed their course in Philosophy before they have attained to the years of discretion or received lawful Ordination by imposition of hands do engyre themselves to preach that a strict order be taken for restraining all such persons and none permitted but those that received Orders to preach ordinarily and in publick These directions being exhibited to the Bishops and some principalls of the Clergy convened with them at Edinburgh in February next were approved of all and at the same time was the High Commission published to the great discontent of those that ruled the estate for that they took it to be a restraint of their authority in matters ecclesiasticall nor did they like to see Clergy men invested with such authority The King no less carefull to have all things ordered rightly in the Estate did prescrive the number attendants and manner of proceeding which the Councell should keep in their meetings As that the number should not exceed thirty and seaven at least be present in every meeting that at their admission they should take the Oath of allegiance and swear fidelity and secrecy in matters to be communicated unto them That they should convene twice in the week once every Tuesday for matters of State and once on the Thursday for actions That none should be permitted to stay with in the Councell house but the Lords and Clerks of the Councell nor any solicitations be made within the house but that all should take their places at their coming in and none stand on foot unless they be to answer for themselves and in that case to rise and stand at the head of the table That four dayes absence of any Counsellor in the time of sitting without license from the rest should inferre the loss of their place That if any of the number were denounced Rebell or did not at least once in the year communicate they should be likewise excluded That wheresoever they remained or happened to come if they should be informed of any trouble like to arise betwixt parties they should charge them to keep the peace and if they refused they should command them to enter in Ward the disobedience whereof should be punished as if the whole Councell were disobeyed Lastly to keep their persons and places in the greater respect they were commanded in the streets either to ride with foot clothes or in coaches but not be seen walking on foot With these directions a command was given to inhibit by Proclamation any persons to bear quarrell to another with intention of private revenge requiring those that should happen to be in any sort injured to complain to the ordinary Judge within the space of forty days after the injury committed and insist for justice wherein if they should fail and yet be perceived to carry a grudge towards him by whom they were injured they should be called before the Councell and if they refused to reconcile be punished as despisers of the royall authority and violators of the publick peace In the Isles of Orkney and Yetland at this time were great oppressions by the Earl thereof for which he was committed in the Castle of Edinburgh and the Bishop of Orkney imployed by the Councell to examine the particular complaints This Nobleman having undone his estate by riot and prodigality did seek by unlawfull shifts to repair the same making Acts in his Courts and exacting penalties for the breach thereof as if any man was tried to have concealed any thing that might inferre a pecuniary mulct and bring profit to the Earl his lands and goods were declared confiscated or if any person did sue for justice before any other Judge then his deputies his goods were escheated or if they went forth of the Isle without his license or his deputies upon whatsoever occasion they should forfeit their moveables and which of all his acts was most inhumane he had ordained that if any man was tried to supply or give relief unto ships or any vessels distressed by tempest the same should be punished in his person and fined at the Earl his pleasure These Acts produced by the Complainers and confessed by the Earl himself were by the Councell decerned unlawfull and the execution thereof in all times thereafter prohibited The Clangregore a barbarous and theevish race of people that could by no means be repressed nor reclaimed from their roberies were at the same time ordained to be rooted forth and the service committed to the Earl of Argile who made some beginning and presented certain of the principalls to justice but the neglect of their
King recommended as fit persons were passed by as men suspected and others named who stood worse affected to his Majesties service Another question they made for admitting the Officers of State refusing to admit any but the Chancellor Thesaurer and Clerk of the Rolls This being long and sharply debated was in end agreed by the admission of the whole number Among these Articles proponed the first was of his Majesties authority in causes Ecclesiasticall concerning which it was desired to be enacted That whatsoever conclusion was taken by his Majesty with advice of the Archbishops and Bishops in matters of externall policy the same should have the power and strength of an Ecclesiasticall law The Bishops interceding did humbly intreat that the Article might be better considered for that in making of Ecclesiasticall laws the advice and consent of Presbyters was also required The King replying That he was not against the taking of Ministers their advice and that a competent number of the most grave and learned among them should be called to assist the Bishops but to have matters ruled as they have been in your Generall Assemblies I will never agree for the Bishops must rule the Ministers and the King rule both in matters indifferent and not repugnant to the Word of God So the Article passed in this form That whatsoever his Majesty should determine in the externall government of the Church with the advice of the Archbishops Bishops and a competent number of the Ministery should have the strength of a law This coming to the Ministers ears they began to stirre as if the whole Rites and Ceremonies of England were to be brought upon them without their consents whereupon the Ministers that were in Town were called together and warned to be quiet for that such a generall Act did not lay upon them any bond and if any particular was urged the same should be communicated to them and nothing concluded without their consents It was further told them that there would not be wanting informations enough to stirre them up unto unquietness but they should doe well not to irritate his Majesty whom they knew to be a gracious Prince and one that would hear reason and give way to the same This they did all promise yet upon the suggestion of some discontented people the very next day Mr. William Struthers one of the Ministers of Edinburgh did unhappily break out in his Sermon upon these matters condemning the Rites received in the Church of England and praying God to save Scotland from the same This reported to the King by some of the English Doctors that were his hearers he became greatly incensed But the Ministers not contented with this did the same day in the afternoon tumultuously convene and form a Protestation in the words following Most gracious and dread Soveraign most honourable Lords and remanent Commissioners of this present Parliament We the Ministers of Christs evangel being here convened from all the parts of this your Majesties Kingdome doe in all reverence and submission intreat your Majesties and honours patient and favourable hearing of this our reasonable and humble supplication And first it will please your Highness honorable Estates presently convened to be informed that we are here a number of the Ministery out of all the parts of the Kingdome and that the Bishops have protested to a great many of us since our coming that nothing should be agreed nor consented unto by them in this present Parliament in matters concerning the discipline order of the Church without our knowledge and advice affirming that neither we nor they have any power to consent to any novation or smallest change of the order established without the advice of the Generall Assembly whereupon we resting in security have received a sudden report of an Article to passe for a law in the Parliament decerning and declaring that your Majesty with the advice of the Archbishops and Bishops and such a competent number of the Ministery as your Majesty out of your wisdome should think expedient shall in all time coming have full power to advise and conclude all matters of decency and which any way may concern the policy of the Church And that such conclusions shall have the strength and power of laws Ecclesiasticall wherein it will please your Majesty and honourable Estates to hear our own just griefs and to consider our reasonable desires and not to put us your Majesties humble subjects to that poor and simple part of protestation Which if remedy be not provided we shall be forced to use for the freedome of our Church and discharge of our consciences We then first plead our reformation and that the purity of our Church in doctrine ministration of the sacraments discipline and all convenient order with the best reformed Churches in Europe hath been acknowledged rather as a pattern to be followed of others then that we should seek our reformation from those that never attained to that perfection which we by the mercy of God this long time past have enjoyed under your Highness protection Next we plead the liberty of our Church which by the laws of your Majesties Kingdome and divers Acts of Parliament is established with power of publick meetings and annuall Assemblies and allowance to make Canons and constitutions such as may serve for the comely order thereof all which by this conclusion that is intended will be utterly overthrown Thirdly we plead for the peace and tranquillity of our Church that being nearest the Divine and Apostolicall institution hath lived without schisme and rent in the self and by introduction of any novelty against order may be miserably divided and so our peace broken Fourthly we have been at divers times sufficiently secured from all suspicions of innovation and specially by your Majesties Letter sent down this last Winter to take away all fear of any alteration which might arise upon your Majesties lovingly intended journey which Letter by your Majesties speciall will and direction of your Highness Councell was intimated in pulpits as also by that Proclamation given out the 26 of September 1616 when rumours of an intended conformity with the Church of England were dispersed whereby your Majesty sufficiently avoided all such suspicion and setled the hearts of honest men in a confidence that no such thing should be attempted These and many other reasons have moved us in all reverence by this our humble supplication to entreat your Highness and honourable Estates not to suffer the aforenamed Article or any other prejudiciall to our former liberties to passe at this time to the grief of this poor Church that the universall hope of thousands in this land who rejoiced at your Majesties happy arrivall be not turned into mourning wherein as we we are earnest supplicants to God to incline your Majesties heart this way as the most expedient for the honour of God and well of your subjects so if we shall be frustrated of this our
reasonable desire then doe we in all humility with that dutifull acknowledgment of our loyalty to your Majesty as becometh protest for our selves and all our brethren that shall adhere to this our Protestation that as we are free of the same so must we be forced rather to incurre the censure of your Majesties law then to admit or obtemper any imposition that shall not flow from the Church orderly convened or others having power from the same This Protestation was subscribed by Mr. Archibald Sympson Minister at Dalkeith in name of the brethren and supplicants In another paper the Ministers who were present set down their names each of them with his own hand for a testimony of their concurrence which was committed to the said Mr. Archibald in custody But as it falleth out in things unadvisedly done and in the heat of humour the principalls in that business quickly forthinking that which they had done came the next morning early to the Archbishop of S. Andrews intreating him to stop the presenting thereof which he shewed he might easily doe by taking the same from Mr. Peter Hewet in whose hand it was given to present This man being one of the Ministers of Edinburgh had lately before been preferred to the Abbacy of Crossragwell and having thereby a place in the Parliament house was held the most fitting to present the Protestation which he willingly undertook for he loved ever to be medling and was alwaies set to make trouble The Parliament was that day to close and the Archbishop knowing how ill the King would take their doing went the more timely to the Palace where meeting with the Abbot he asked him concerning the Protestation desiring to see it and having perused a few lines began to rebuke him for taking in hand such a business he making some excuse and saying it was a Protestation only which could not offend put forth his hand to take back the paper but the Archbishop holding it fast the Protestation was neer rent betwixt them It happened one of the Grooms called Iohn Levingston to see them at strife for they had met in the private gallery neer to his Majesties chamber who shewing the King what he had seen his Majesty came forth being as yet undressed and asked what the matter was The Archbishop answered That a number of Ministers having framed a Protestation against the Article of his Majesties Prerogative had given it to the man that he had made Abbot to present and that he had undertaken to doe the same for which he had been chiding him it being an undutifull part in him without signifying the matter to his Ordinary to take such a business in hand The man falling upon his knees and trembling said That he supposed the Protestation would never offend his Majesty and that he had promised to present the same in Parliament but now that it appeared to him otherwise he would no more meddle therewith The King taking the Protestation and perceiving it subscribed by one only Minister inquired who these others were that convened The Abbot answered that they had all signed a paper besides which the subscriver kept by him for his warrant Then the King commanding the Bishop to keep the Protestation went to prepare himself for the meeting and suspecting that some other might come and protest against the Article commanded the Register Sir George Hay who upon the death of Sir Alexander Hay had been preferred to the office the year before to passe by that Article as a thing no way necessary the prerogative of his Crown bearing him to more then was declared by it Thus when the hour of meeting came the Register as he was commanded laying by that Article caused read the others that were concluded as the custome is and the same being assented to by the Estates were ratified by his Majesty Thereafter the King in a most grave speech having commended the execution of the laws made to the Judges and other inferiour Magistrates gave the Estates a most kinde and loving farewell The same night the Bishops had warning given them to meet his Majesty at S. Andrews the tenth of Iuly whither he minded to call the principall Ministers also that they might know his minde before he went away The Diet held as was appointed and there assembled with the Bishops the Ministers of chief accompt to the number of thirty six who being convened in the Chappel of the Castle the King did speak to them to this purpose What and how great my care hath been for this Church as well before as since my going into England is so well known to you all as I neither need nor doe I mean to speak much of it lest any should think I am seeking thanks for that I have done It sufficeth me that God knows my intention is and ever was to have his true worship maintained and a decent and comely order established in the Church But of you I must complain and of your causless jealousies even when my meaning towards you is best Before my coming home to visit this Kingdom being advertised that in your last Assembly an Act was made for gathering the Acts of the Church and putting them in form I desired a few Articles to be inserted one was for the yearly comemoration of our Saviour his greatest blessings bestowed upon mankinde as his Nativity 〈◊〉 Resurrection Ascension and the descent of the holy Spirit Another for the private use of both Sacraments in urgent and necessary cases A third for the reverent administration of his holy Supper And a fourth for Catechising and Confirming young Children by Bishops It was answered that these particulars had not been moved in any of the Church Assemblies and so could not be inserted with the rest which excuse I admitted and was not minded to presse them any more till you after advice did give consent thereto yet when in the late Parliament I desired my prerogative to be declared in the making of the Ecclesiasticall laws certain of your number did mutinously assemble themselves and form a Protestation to cross my just desires But I will pass that among many other wrongs I have received at your hands the errand for which I have now called you is to hear what your scruples are in these points and the reasons if any you have why the same ought not to be admitted I mean not to doe any thing against reason and on the other part my demands being just and religious you must not think that I will be refused or resisted It is a power innated and a speciall prerogative which we that are Christian Kings have to order and dispose of externall things in the policy of the Church as we by advice of our Bishops shall finde most fitting and for your approving or disapproving deceive not your selves I will never regard it unlesse you bring me a reason which I cannot answer The Ministers at these words falling on their knees
Agreed 2. Agreed 3. Agreed that the Church is sometimes taken for them that exercise the spiritual function in particular congregations 4. Continued to further reasoning and when it is said this power sheweth from God to his Church whether this should be understood of the whole Church or of the office-bearers and wheither it sheweth mediately or immediately 5. Referred to further reasoning 6. The last words of the Article are thought not necessary and therefore to be delete 7. Agreed 8. Agreed 9. Say in stead hereof For this power is spiritual not having-deleting the other words 10. Agreed 11. Agreed 12. Agreed changing these word they should not be called Lords over their flock 13. Change the last words of Ecclesiastical government and Ecclesiastical discipline according to the word of God 14. Referred to further reasoning when the order of Bishops shall be discussed 15. Referred till they come to the attribution of the power 16. Agreed as the words are conceived 17. Disserreth this to be resclved with the 15. 18. Referred 19. 20. Agreed that neither ought the Magistrate preach nor minister the Sacraments nor execute the censures of the Church which is to be understood of excommunication and referreth the second part of this Article to further reasoning 21. Referred 22. Referred 1. The name of the Church in this Article is taken for the Church in the first signification to wit for the whole Church Agreed with the rest of the Articles 2. Referred 3. Referred 4. Referred 5. Referred 6. Referred to reasoning of the head of Visiters 7. Referred 8. Referred 9. Referred 10. Referred 11. Referred 1. Agreed 2. Agreed 3. Agreed 4. Agreed 5. Agreed 6. 7. Referred 8. Agreed with the generality hereof 9. Agreed 11. Agreed 12. Agreed 13. Agreed 14. Agreed 15. Agreed 16. Agreed 1. Agreed saving the word Bishop is referred to the place of Visitation 2. Agreed 3. Agreed 4. Agreed 5. Referred 7. Agreed 8. Agreed 9. Agreed that the Minister of the Word may pronounce the sentence of excommunication after lawful proceeding 10. Agreed with the present orders concerning marriage This whole Chapter referred to further reasoning 1. Passed over 2. Agreed that name of Elders be joyned with Ministers 3. The perpepetuity of Elders referred to further deliberation 4. Agreed 5. Referred 6. Referred 7. Agreed 8. Agreed 9. Agreed 10. Agreed 11. Agreed 12. Agreed 13. Agreed 1. Agreed that Ministers and Elders may judge spiritual things within their owne bounds 2. Agreed 3. Agreed that Synods be kept twice in the year by him that hath the charge of visitation 4. General Assemblies once yearly his Majesties authority being interponed and from the General Assembly Noblemen and such as please to come shall not be excluded providing that fifteen onely with his Majesties Commissioner have voice therein 5. Agreed 6. Agreed 7. Agreed 8. Differed to the head of Bishops and their Reformation 9. Agreed 10. Agreed joyning in the end of the Article these words or spiritual things onely 11. Agreed that as they make Acts in spiritual things so they may alter the same as the necessity of time requires 12. Referred 13. Referred 14. Referred 15. Referred 16. Referred 17. Referred 18. Referred 19. Referred 20. Referred 21. Referred 22. Referred 23. Referred 24. 25. Referred 26. Referred 27. Referred 28. Referred 29. Referred 30. Passed over 31. Answered before 32. The last part of the Article referred to the heads of Bishops 33. Diffâ—rred 34. Agreed in spiritual matters 35. Referred 1. The Chapter of Deacons and 〈◊〉 of the Church are thought to be suppressed till the head of corruptions be teasoned 1. For this whole Chapter it is thought meet that an Article be presented to his Majesty and Estates craving a punishment to be appointed for those that put violent hands in Ministers and likewise to desire such immunities and priviledges to them as shall be thought convenient 3. Let his Majesty and Estates be supplicated for dissolving these Prelacies that Ministers may be provided to the several Churches at least after the death of the present possessors 4. Passed over 5. Passed over 6. Answered by the act of dissolution 7. An Act to be sought for disposing these united Churches to Ministers after decease of the present possessors 8. Referred 6. The last part of the Article differred 10. Agreed that Bishops have a particular flock 11. Let the Diocese be divided in such sort as a man may reasonably visit and for the perpetuity of Visitors it is referred to further reasoning 13. Passed over 14. Agreed 15. Passed over 16. Passed over 17. Agreed 18. Referred 19. Agreed â—hat an Act be made that none hurt or diminish the patrimony of the Church 5 Agreed 21. Answered before 2. Agreed 3. Agreed 4. Agreed 5. Differred untill joyning of Churches 6. Agreed as depending on the former 7. Passed over in the Article of Provincial Assemblies 8. Agreed as before 9. Agreed to the general 10. Referred 11. To be sought of the Parliament 12. Referred to the head of Deacons This was the course the Assembly took for admitting this form of policy The Archbishop of Glasgow urged to submit himself The Archbishops answer presented in writing The answer doth not content be Assembly The Archbishop contracts sicknesse and dieth The conditions prescribed to Bishops A tumult in Glasgow for pulling down the Cathedral The matter brouâ—ht before the Councel The Abbot of Dunfermlin returned from England The report of his Commission The Lord Ruthven made Lieutenant of the Borders An. 1579. Articles presented by the Lord Hereis The Lord Maxwel excepteth against the Articles The Earl of Athol dieth Certain Libellers executed at Striveling Commission for apprehending the Lord Hamilton and his brother Lord Claud. They escape and depart forth of the Realm Charges directed for the rendring the houses of Hamilton and Draffan A complaint presented in name of the Earl of Arran The Queen of Scots her Secretary denied accesse to the King The Gentlemen of the name of Hamilton put under surety The Earl of Argile created Chancellor A Parliament indicted An. 1580. The Lord D' Aubigny cometh from France He is created Earl of Lennox The Earl of Lennox hated because of his credit with the King The King writeth to the Assembly of the Church The proceedings of the Church displease the King Jesuits and Priests resort to the countrey The King his care for reclaiming the Earl of Lennox The Earl joyns himself to the Church but is still suspected A confession of faith formed because of the dispensations from Rome A rumour raised against the Earl of Morton A motion of electing a Chamberlain The Earl of Lennox created Chamberlain A trouble betwixt Oliphant and Ruthven The Earl of Lennox charged by the Ambassadour of England Alexander Home sent into England He is remitted to the Lord Thesaurer The Thesaurers conference with Alexander Home Alexander Homes his answer to the Thesaurer Vlt. Deâ—emb The Earl of Morton challenged for the murther of the Kings father The Earl of Morton his