which We have subscribed, & the Confession subscribed 1580. more
than there is between that which is hid, and that which is revealed;
A march stone hid in the ground, and uncovered, betwixt the hand
closed and open, betwixt a sword scheathed and drawne, or betwixt the
large Confession, registrat in the Acts of Parliament, and the short
Confession, or (if we may with reuerence ascend yet higher) between the
Old Testament & the New, yet as to scheath our sword when it should be
drawn, were imprudency, or at the commandement of Princes, professedly
Popish in their dominions, after the Subiects had subscribed both
Confessions, to subscribe the first without the second, or at the will
of a Jewish Magistrate, openly denying the New Testament, to subscribe
the Old alone, after that they have subscribed both, were horrible
impiety against God, and Treachery against the Truth: Right so, for Vs
to subscribe the former a-part, as it is now urged and framed, without
the explanation and application thereof at this time, when ours is
reiected; and the subscribers of the former refvse to subscribe ours,
as containing something substantially different, and urge the former
upon us, as different from ours, and not expressing the speciall
abiuration of the euils, supplicated against by us, were nothing else,
but to deny and part from our former subscription, if not formally, yet
interpretatively. Old Eleazar, who would not seeme to eate forbidden
meate, and the Confessors and Martyrs of old, who would not seeme by
delivering some of their papers, to render the Bible, or to deny the
Truth, may teach us our duty in this case, although our lives were in
hazard for refusing this Subscription: And who knoweth but the LORD may
be calling His people now, who have proceeded so far in professing His
Truth at this time, to such Trials and Confessions, as His faithfull
witnesses have given of old; that in this point also our doing may be a
document both to the succeeding ages, and to other Kirks, to whom for
the present we are made a spectacle.
12. If any be so forgetfull of his oath (which God forbid) as to
subscribe this Confession, as it is now urged, he doth according
to the proclamation acquiesce in this declaration of his Majesties
will, and doth accept of such a pardon as hath need to be ratified in
Parliament, And thus doth turne our glory unto shame, by confessing
our guiltinesse, where God from Heaven hath made us guiltlesse, and by
the fire of His Spirit from Heaven hath accepted of our service, And
doth depart from the commandement of God, the practise of the Godly in
former times, and the worthy and laudable example of our worthy and
religious progenitours, in obedience whereof, and conform to which, We
made profession to subscribe: for there is no particular Act required
of us, to whom the pardon is presented in this proclamation, but this
new subscription allanerlie.
13. The generall band now urged to be subscribed, as it containeth
many clauses not so fitting the present time as that wherein it was
subscribed, so is it deficient in a point, at this time most necessary,
Of the reformation of our lives, that we shall answerably to our
profession, be examples to others, of all Godliness, sobernesse and
righteousnesse and of every duty we owe to God and man, without which
we cannot now subscribe this Confession, least we loose the bands to
wickednesse, seem to repent of our former resolutions and promises, and
choose to have our portion with hypocrites, professing and swearing
that we know GOD, but in our workes denying him, being abominable,
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
14. Since the narrative of the generall band is now changed, & some
lines, expressing at length the Papists, and their adherents to be
the partie from whom the danger to Religion, and the Kings Majestie
was threatned, are left out, and no designation made of the partie
from whom the danger is now threatned, We are made either to think,
that our subscription at this time is unnecessarie, or to suspect
that we who have supplicated and entred in Covenant, are understood
to be the partie, especially since the Lords of Councell have in the
Act Septemb. 22. ratifying the Proclamation, found themselves bound
to use their best endeavours, that all his Majesties good subjects
may rest satisfied with his Majesties Declaration, since also we have
beene (although undeservedly) challenged of disorders, distractions,
and dangers to Religion, and his Majesties authority; and since in the
foresaid Act, and in the missive directed to his Majestie, the Lords of
Councell offer their lives and fortunes to his Majestie, in repressing
all such as shall hereafter prease to disturbe the peace of this Kirk
and Kingdome; which being expressed in a generalitie is by many applied
to us, and interpreted of our adhering to our Covenant; We should
therefore, by our subscription of the Covenant, as it is now conceived,
both do directly against our owne minds in condemning our selves,
wherein we are innocent, and should consent to our owne hurt, to the
suppressing of the cause which we maintaine, and to the repressing
mutually one of us of another, dirictly contrarie to our former solemne
Oath and subscription.
15. The subscribing of this Confession by the Lords of His Majesties
privie Councell, who by their place and high employment are publike
Peacemakers, and by others who have not subscribed the late Confession,
will make the breach wider, and the lamentable division of this Kirk
more desperate then ever before, some having sworne to labour by all
lawfull meanes to recover the former Libertie, and puritie of Religion,
and others maintaining that for puritie, which is alreadie established;
Some beleeving and professing, that the evils supplicated against,
are abjured in that Confession of Faith, and others maintaining the
Confession of Faith, and these corruptions (although for the present
discharged by Authoritie) not to be inconsistent: and beside this, many
divisions and subdivisions will ensue, to the dolefull renting of the
Kirk and Kingdome, making way for the wrath and many judgements of God
often threatned by his faithfull servants, which all the godly ought to
labour by all meanes to prevent.
16. Wee represent also to the honourable Lords of privie Councell to be
considered, That the Doctrine, Discipline, and Use of Sacraments are
sworne, and the contrarie abjured, according to the Word of God, and
the meaning of the Kirk of Scotland, in the Books of Discipline and
Acts of Assemblies; And that in the Oath there is no place left to the
generalitie of any mans conception of the true Faith and Religion, nor
to any private interpretation, or mentall reservation.
For these and the like considerations, in our owne name, and in name of
all who will adhere to the late Covenant, subscribed by Us, and sealed
from Heaven, We (from our dutie to God, our King, our native Countrey,
our selves, and the posteritie, lest our silence import a satisfaction
of our desires, and a stopping of our mouths, from necessarie
supplication, for things yet to bee obtained from his Majesties just
and gracious disposition), are constrained to declare and protest,
First, That the cause and occasion of the distractions of the Kirk and
common-wealth are no wayes to bee imputed unto us, or our needlesse
feares, but to the innovations and corruptions of Religion, which,
against the acts and order of this Kirk, and the Lawes of the Kingdome,
have beene pressed upon us the people of God, and his Majesties loyall
Subjects; who, although under great thraldom, were living in peace
and quietnesse, labouring in all godlinesse and honestie, to do our
dutie to God and man. Secondly, We protest, that all questions and
doubts that arise, concerning the freedome of the Assemblie, whether
in the constitution and members thereof, or in the matters to be
treated, or in the manner and order of proceeding, be remitted to
the determination of the Assembly it selfe, as the onely proper and
competent Judge, And that it shall be lawfull for us, being authorized
with lawfull commissions, as at other times when the urgent necessitie
of the Kirk shall require, so in this exigence to assemble our selves
at the Diet appointed, notwithstanding any impediment or prorogation
to the contrary. And being assembled, against all qualifications and
predeterminations, or presupposals, to propone, treat, reason, vote,
and conclude, according to the Word of God, Confession of Faith, and
Acts of lawfull Assemblies, in all Ecclesiasticall matters pertaining
to the Assemblie, and tending to the advancement of the Kingdome of
Christ and good of Religion.
Thirdly, since Archbishops and Bishops have no warrand for their office
in this Kirk, since it is contrary both to reason and to the Acts of
the Kirk, that any have place and voice in the Assemblie, who are
not authorized with lawfull Commissions; and seeing both in common
equitie, and by the tenour of this Proclamation they are made lyable
to the triall and censure of the Assembly, Wee protest, that they bee
not present, as having place or voice in the Assembly, but as _rei_
to compeere, for underlaying tryall and censure upon the generall
complaints already made, and the particular accusations to bee given in
against them; And that the warning given by His Majesties Proclamation,
and this our Protestation, bee a sufficient citation to them, to
compeer before the Assembly, for their triall and censure in life,
office, and benefice.
Fourthly, Wee solemnly protest that We do constantly adhere to our
Oath and Subscription of the Confession of Faith and Covenant, lately
renewed and approven, with rare and undeniable evidences from heaven,
of the wonderfull workings of his Spirit, in the hearts both of Pastors
and people, through all the parts of the Kingdome; And that we stand to
all parts and clauses thereof, and particularly to the explanation and
application, containing both our abjuration of, and our union against
the particular evils and corruptions of the time; a dutie which the
Lord at this time especially craveth at our hands.
Fifthly, We also Protest, that none of us who have Subscribed, and do
adhere to our Subscription of the late Covenant, be charged, or urged,
either to procure the subscriptions of others or to subscribe ourselves
unto any other Confession or Covenant, containing any derogation
therunto, especially that mentioned in the Proclamation, without the
necessarie explanation and the application thereof alreadie sworn by us
for the reasons above expressed: And because, as we did in our former
Protestation appeale from the Lords of His Majesties Councell, so do we
now by these renew our solemne appeale, with all solemnities requisite,
unto the next free Generall Assemblie and Parliament, as the onely
supreame nationall Judicatories competent, to judge of nationall causes
and proceedings.
Sixthly, We protest, That no subscription, whether by the Lords of
Councell or others, of the Confession mentioned in the Proclamation,
and enjoyned for the maintenance of Religion, as it is now already, or
at this present time established and professed within this Kingdome,
without any innovation of Religion or Law, be any manner of way
prejudiciall to our Covenant, wherein we have sworn to forbeare the
practice of Novations already introduced, &c. till they be tryed in
a free Assembly, And to labour by all lawfull meanes, to recover
the puritie and libertie of the Gospel as it was established and
professed before the foresaid Innovations: And in like manner, that no
subscription foresaid be any derogation to the true and sound meaning
of our worthy predecessours, at the time of their subscription in the
yeer 1581. and afterward: Withall, warning and exhorting all men who
lay to heart the cause of Religion, against the corruptions of the time
& the present estate of things, both to subscribe the Covenant as it
hath bin explained, & necessarily applied; and as they love the puritie
and libertie of the Gospel, to hold back their hands from all other
Covenants, till the Assembly now indicted be conveened, & determine
the present differences and divisions, & preserve this countrey from
contrary oathes.
Seventhly, As his Majesties royall clemencie appeared in forgiving and
forgetting what his Majestie conceiveth to be a disorder or done amisse
in the proceeding of any; so are we very confident of his Majesties
approbation, to the integrity of our hearts and peaceablenesse of our
wayes and actions all this time past: And therefore We protest that we
still adhere to our former complaints, protestations, lawfull meetings,
proceedings, mutuall defences, &c. All which, as they have been in
themselves lawfull, so were they to us, pressed with so many grievances
in his Majesties absence from this native kingdome, most necessary,
and ought to be regarded as good offices, and pertinent duties of
faithfull Christians, loyall subjects, and sensible members of this
Kirk and Common-wealth, as we trust at all occasions to make manifest
to all good men, especially to his sacred Majestie, for whose long and
prosperous government, that we may live a peaceable and quiet life in
all godlinesse and honesty, We earnestly pray.
WHEREUPON a noble Earle, James Earle of Montrose, &c., in name of
the Noblemen; M. Alexander Gibson, younger of Durie, in name of the
Barons; George Porterfield Merchant Burgesse of Glasgow, in name of
the Burrowes; M. Harie Rollock Minister at Edinburgh, in name of the
Ministers: and M. Archbald Johnstoun Reader hereof, in name of all
who adhere to the Confession of faith and Covenant lately renewed
within this Kingdome, tooke instruments in the hands of three Notars
present, at the said Mercate Crosse of Edinburgh, being invironed with
great numbers of the foresaid Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burrows,
Ministers, and Commons, before many hundred witnesses, and craved
the extract thereof: And in token of their dutifull respect to his
Majestie, confidence of the equitie of their cause, and innocencie of
their carriage, and hope of his Majesties gracious acceptance they
offered in all humilitie with submisse reverence a copie thereof to the
Herauld.
* * * * *
1638.—September 24.
72. _Proclamation._[96]
At Holy-rood-house the 24. day of September Anno 1638.
The which day a Noble Earle, James Marquesse of Hamiltoun, Earle of
Arran and Cambridge, his Majesties Commissioner, having produced and
exhibit before the Lords of secret Councell, upon the twenty-second
day of this instant, a warrant signed by his Majestie, of the date
the ninth of September instant; wherein among others of his Majesties
gracious and royall expressions for preservation of the purity of
Religion, and due obedience to his Majesties authoritie in the
maintenance thereof, his Majestie did will and ordaine that the Lords
themselves should sweare the Confession and generall Band mentioned in
his Majesties said warrant, and also should take such order as all his
Majesties lieges may subscribe the same. And the said Lords of secret
Councell, acknowledging his Majesties pious and gracious disposition
and affection to the purity of Gods truth, did upon the 22. day of
September instant, unanimously and with all humble, hearty, and sincere
affection, sweare and subscribe the Confession of Faith, dated the
second of March 1580. according as it was then profest within this
Kingdome: Together with the foresaid generall Band dated in Anno 1589.
And now to the effect that all his Majesties lieges may give the like
obedience to his Majesties so pious desire, therefore the said Lords
have ordained and ordaines all his Majesties lieges, of whatsoever
estate, degree or qualitie, Ecclesiasticall or Civill, to sweare and
subscribe the said Confession, dated the second of March 1580. and
that according to the said date and tenour thereof, as it was then
profest within this Kingdome: Together with the said generall Band
dated in Anno 1589. as they will answer at the contrarie upon their
obedience. And ordaines Officers of Armes to passe to the market crosse
of Edinburgh, and make publication hereof, and at all other places
needfull, where-through none pretend ignorance of the same.
* * * * *
1638.—September 30.
73. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[97]
HAMILTON,
I have no time now to make my observations upon your Proceedings,
therefore now I shall onely tell you that I approve them all, (in what
concerns your part of them;) and that not onely so, but that I esteem
it to be very great Service (as the times are.) This much I thought
necessary at this time to encourage you in your Proceedings: my next
shall be longer, yet this is enough to assure you that I am
Your assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Hampton-Court,
30 Sept. 1638.
* * * * *
1638.—October 1.
74. _Letter from the King to the Council._[98]
Right trusty and right wel-beloved Cousin and Councellour, Right trusty
and right well-beloved Cousins and Councellours, We greet you well: As
by your Letter We finde now well you are satisfied with Our gracious
pleasure, expressed in Our late Proclamation and Declaration; so We do
expect the continuance of your care by your best indevours, to bring
al Our good people to a true sense of Our Royal intentions, and reall
care of preferring and advancing the good and peace of that Church
and Kingdome, which hath always been and still is one of Our chiefest
cares. We give you hearty thanks for your affection and pains in this
service, and do approve of your course in subscribing of the Confession
and band, and order taken by you for publishing and requiring the
like due and thankfull acceptance of Our gracious pleasure by all Our
good subjects. And seeing the time of the Assembly doth now approach,
We require you to attend diligently upon our Commissioner, untill
the time appointed for the down sitting of the said Assembly, and
further, to the finall ending thereof; that from time to time you may
be assisting to him with your best opinions and advices, for preparing
and digesting every thing that may conduce to bring this businesse,
to be treated upon in the Assembly, to the wished peaceable and happy
end. And although We will not doubt but that all Our good subjects
will be carefull of every thing that may concern Us, or Our Sovereign
Authority: yet because that at such publick and generall meetings, it
is not to be expected that all mens dispositions will bee alike, and
of one temper, We require you, and that in a more particular manner,
according to the trust and confidence We have in your affections to Our
Service, carefully to advert, that if any proposition shall be made,
which may seem to derogate from Soveraignty, or that true estate of
Monarchicall Government already established within that Kingdome, or
which may impede the peaceable conclusion of this Assembly, that as
good subjects and faithfull Councellours and servants to Us, you assist
Our Commissioner to withstand the same to the uttermost of your power:
To whom We will you to give absolute trust in every thing which he in
Our name shall deliver or impart to you, or any of you, in publick or
in private, And so we bid you farwell. From Our Honour of Hampton Court
the first of October, 1638.
* * * * *
1638.—October 3.
75. _Letter from Lords Covenanters to Commissioner._[99]
PLEASE YOUR GRACE,
Wee wer glade of the indiction of the ane assembley, as the means to
bring our complaints to ane end; and as wee promissed for our pairt to
doe our endeuore, that all matters might be carried in a peaceable way,
and no man troubled in any sorte till that tyme, so did wee certainlie
expecte, that no violence or molestatione should haue beine wssed
aganist aney of thosse quho had subscriued the last couenant; and zet,
far contrarey to our expectation, are brought hither almost eurey houre
griuous complaints from maney of the people in diuersse pairts of the
kingdome; that they are by the threttninges and oppin violence of some
statsmen, and counsellers, and barrons, constrained to subscriue a
confession of faithe and band; some with blind and doubting mynds, and
others aganist ther conciences, to the grate trouble of ther soulles,
and grate disturbance of the peace of the countrey, contrarey to suche
peaceable preparations as should haue proceidit a perfyte pacification
at a generall assembley. If wee had hard bot some complaints of this
kind, wee wold haue spared both your Graces paines and our auen; bot
complaints being multiplied more and more, wee could not bot of deutiey
make some representations therof to your Grace, that some coursse may
be takin for present suppressing this so irreligious and vniust maner
of doing; and for præuenting the hard consequences that may ensew from
people quho are thus pressed to subscriue aganist ther mynds, and from
others who are ioneyed in couenant with them, wich, as it is humblie
petitioned, so it is confidently expected by,
Your Grace’s humble seruants,
Cassils,
Louthean,
Lindesay, Balmerino,
Loudoun, Burlie,
Johnston:
* * * * *
1638.—October 3.
76, 77, 78. _Answer thereto, and Correspondence._[100]
MY VERY GOOD LORD,
I have received from your Lordsh: and other Noblemen a Letter,
containing a complaint against the violence offered to divers of his
Majesties subjects, by States-men, Councellours, and others; and that
complaint aggravated by your promising and undertaking, for your
selfe and all your adherents, that no man should be troubled until
the Generall Assembly; and your just expectation that the same course
should have beene held on the other side by Us.
For the former, I know not what States-men, Noblemen or Barons, your
Lordsh: meanes; for naming none, I know not to whom I shall take my
selfe; nor doe I know what violence and threatnings you mean. If
you meane his Majesties Commissioners appointed by the King, they
requiring his subjects to subscribe the old Confession and Covenant,
by his authoritie now renewed, and remonstrating unto them the danger
they incurre by law in not obeying his Majesties commandement, I hope
that cannot be called violence, but duty, the omission whereof must
needs be a violation of, and violence offered to his Majesties sacred
authoritie: If other violences and threatnings they have used, as your
Lordsh: seemeth to intimate (for their obedience to his Majesties just
authority, I am sure your Lordsh: will not call violence) they must
answer for it, and shall whensoever your Lordsh: shall make known
the delinquents. But alas, my Lords, Tell me now in good earnest,
whether you have heard they have used such violence in perswading this
Covenant, as hath beene used by your adherents in inforcing of yours?
Hath the bloud of Gods seruants, his holy Ministers, beene shed, which
bloud I am afraid keepeth the vengeance of God still hanging over
this Land? Have men beene beaten, turned out of their livings and
maintenance, reviled and excommunicated in the Pulpits, and a thousand
more outrages acted upon them for not subscribing this Covenant? Have
none who have subscribed your Covenant, done it with blind and doubting
minds? If they have, I beseech your Lordsh: not to call his Majesties
Councellours legall proceedings irreligious and unjust, untill you have
proved the pietie and justice of the proceedings of your owne adherents.