no man should bee troubled till the Assembly, and expecting the like
from us, truly I am glad I have it under your Lordships hands, for
I think there are few houres of any one day, since the indicting of
the Assemblie, that from all parts of this Kingdome, I am not vexed
with complaints of new processing of Ministers, new withholding of
Ministers stipends unprocessed, heavie complaints of Ministers of
your owne Covenant, that they are threatened, and that sharply and
bitterly, for their declaring of their griefe, in being barred of their
freedome in the election of their owne Commissioners to the Generall
Assembly, and being borne downe by the multitude of Lay voices, and
menaced because of their protesting against the same, the complaints
of Ministers Non-Covenanters and Lay-Elders Non-Covenanters, chosen by
their Sessions to assist at the election of the Commissioners from the
Presbyteries, but turned back for not having subscribed your Covenant,
and reviled with bitter words for being so pert as to come thither; Is
this the performance of promising, that no man shall be troubled till
the Assembly? These are, indeed, preparations very unfit to precede
this Assemblie, they being so unpeaceable and like to take up much
time, in discussing, at that great Meeting, the illegality of these
elections. My Lord, the truth is, I shall be as carefull to see any
wrong offered by his Majesties Commissioners (in urging his Majesties
authoritie) punished, when I shall know the offences and the offenders,
as I am heartily grieved at the proceedings of your Associats: Here
I am sure, his Maᵗⁱᵉˢ Commissioners have bin rather backward then
forward, but so have not your Lordsh: adherents bin; for they have in
very many places proclaimed your Protestation, where his Majesties
Declaration hath not beene proclaimed. I hope your Lordsh: will pardon
my unusuall prolixitie; for I confesse I am much troubled to see his
Majesties good subjects led into such misconstructions of his pious and
religious intentions towards them, This my Letter, I pray your Lordsh:
to communicate to the other Noble Lords, who subscribed that to me. To
your selfe, and them, I pray your Lordsh: commend the true respects of
Your Lordsh:
HAMILTOUN.
For the Earle of Cassills.
* * * * *
_Letter from the Lords Covenanters to the Commissioner._[101]
PLEASE YOUR GRACE,
After your parting from us, we had knowledge from John Wilson Skipper,
& sundry of his Passengers newly arrived, That, being at sea on his way
from Holland hither, one of his Maᵗⁱᵉˢ small ships of 8. Peeces, came
aboard & searched him for Armes & Ammunition, declaring they did the
same by his Majesties Warrant. We doe not so much value the hazzard of
any prejudice, as we are heartily grieved to find any such note of his
Majesties displeasure, differencing us from his other subjects, when
our own hearts and the Lord that searcheth them doth beare witnesse of
our loyaltie and affection to his Majestie, especially to have found
it now when we are made so secure, both by the hopes of obteyning from
his Majesties favour, by your mediation, these ordinary and publike
remedies that can fully settle this Church and State and by assurance
from your Grace we should finde no such hard dealing, during the time
of your imployment amongst the subjects here, who trust in your care to
prevent speedily the inconvenience of this, as you did in that other
late particular anent the arrest of our horses in England. We thinke
this advertisement sufficient to your Grace, who is wounded through our
sides if wee suffer any thing in this time, being so farre interessed
to vindicate us from such prejudice, who doe acknowledge our selves to
be
Your Graces humble servants.
Rothes, Montrose, Home, Weymse, Lindesay,
Boyd, Loudone, Balmerino, Dalhousie, Forrester,
Elcho, Cranstoune, Balcarres, Burghly, Lothiane.
Edinb. the 28. Septemb.
1638.
_Answer to the foregoing, by the Commissioner._[102]
MY LORD,
I have received a Letter this day signed by your Lordsh: and sundry
other Noblemen, making mention, that one John Wilson Skipper, being
on his way from Holland hither, was searched by one of his Majesties
small ships. This is no new nor unaccustomed thing; for commonly the
Captains of his Majesties ships during the time of being at sea, doe
take notice what the loadings of all such ships are, as they meet with,
who trade in the Channell; it being a prerogative that belongs to his
Imperiall Crown: I am persuaded that your Lordsh: and the rest of my
Lords cannot thinke, but if his Majestie had been desirous to have made
stop of importation of Ammunition into this Kingdome this time past,
but it would have been an easie matter for him to have effected; but so
little hath he regarded this, as he hath not so much as taken notice
of it, And yet it were no strange thing, if his Majestie should give
direction to cause examine for what end so great store of Ammunition
is imported into this Kingdome, and a little more narrowly to looke
into our actions; when, by I know not whom, there hath been so much
notice taken of such Ammunition, as his Majestie hath thought fit to
send hither. For notwithstanding that your Lordsh: sayes we are made
secure by the hopes of obtaining from his Majestie these remedies that
can fully settle this Church and State, yet I may say courses are taken
to put feares in his Majesties good subjects minds, by perswading of
them that no such thing is intended: This does too too manifestly
appeare by the watching and guarding his Majesties Castle, and many
other courses: but of this I will write nothing, my intention being
only to returne answer of what is writ to me: And therefore for your
Lordsh: satisfaction I shall acquaint his Majestie with the contents of
your letters, who will no doubt give such directions therein, as his
good subjects will have no just cause of complaint: Whereas you have
been pleased to say, that you have been assured by me, that you should
receive no such hard dealing, during the time of my imployment; let
mee desire you to consider this aright, and you will find it none; for
neither was that ship stayed from proceeding on their intended voyage,
nor anything taken from them, nor needs your Lordsh: to doubt that his
Majestie will doe any thing (except our owne indiscretion provoke him)
that may make appear to the world that he makes a difference betwixt us
of this nation and his other subjects. Bee confident, my Lord, that my
endeavours have, and doe tend to no other end, but to the glory of God,
the honour of his sacred Majestie, and the preserving from ruine this
poore distracted Kingdome; and that I have and shall labour to prevent
all such accidents as may breed the least stop or hinderance of this
wished event, which I hope and am confident that your Lordsh: and all
those noble Lords who have signed this Letter to me, will take the same
to heart; and then certainly you will not be so easily moved with such
light and sleight reports: Nor will your Lordsh: thinke that either you
or I can bee wounded by the order and command of so pious, mercifull,
and so clement a Prince as is our dread Soveraigne, who hath showne
himselfe to be so full of goodnesse, as we must of all men living prove
the worst, if we be not thankfull to God, and him for it. This my
letter your Lordsh: will be pleased to communicate to the rest who haue
writ to me, and esteeme of me as
Hammilt. 24[103] Sept. 1638.
Your Lordships
humble servant,
HAMMILTOUN.
For the Earle of Rothees.
* * * * *
1638.—October 5.
79. _Explanation by the Bishop and Doctors of Aberdeen on signing the
King’s Covenant._[104]
First, we do heartily abhor and condemn all Errours truly Popish,
or repugnant to the Holy Scripture, and consequently to the Uniform
Doctrine of the Reformed Kirks, and to Our National Confession
registered in Parliament An. 1567.
Secondly, we do no ways hereby abjure or condemn Episcopal Government,
as it was in the days, and after the days, of the Apostles in the
Christian Kirk for many hundred of years, and is now conform thereto
restored in the Kirk of Scotland.
Thirdly, we do not hereby condemn nor abjure the Five Perth Articles,
or any thing lawful of that sort, which shall be found by the Church
conducible at any time for good Policy and Order, or which is practised
by any sound Reformed Kirk.
Fourthly, we still hold to that Clause of our great National
Confession, (chap. 20. art. 21.) that the General Councils, and
consequently the National Kirk of Scotland, have no power to make any
perpetual Law which God before hath not made.
Fifthly, by the adhering to the Discipline of the Reformed Kirk of
Scotland, we mean not any immutability of that Presbyterial Government
which was An. 1581. or of any other Humane Institution: but we do
hereby understand that the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction and Discipline
of the Kirk of Scotland doth not depend on the Pope of Rome, or any
other Foreign Power; and hereby we do confess our constant Obedience to
the Kirk of Scotland in all her lawful Constitutions.
Sixthly, we do not presume by this our personal Oath either to prejudge
the liberty of the Kirk of Scotland, to change and reform this foresaid
short Confession, in some ambiguities and obscure expressions thereof,
whereupon some men have builded inconvenient Interpretations and
Doctrines, or to exime our selves from Obedience to the Kirk in that
case.
Seventhly, by this our personal Oath we do not take upon us to lay
any further Bond upon our Posterity, than the Word of God doth,
recommending onely our Example to them, so far as they shall find it
agreeable to Gods Word.
In this sense as is said, and not otherwise, do we subscribe the said
Confession, and the general Bond annexed thereto, at Aberdeen Octob.
5. 1638.
Signed,
Ad. Aberdonen.
John Forbes D. and P. of Div.
R. Barrone D. and P. of Div.
Al. Rosse D.D.
Ja. Sibbald D.D.
Al. Scrogie D.D.
Wil. Lesley D.D.
* * * * *
1638.—October 9.
80. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[105]
HAMILTON,
I Confess this last Dispatch does more put me to seek how to judge
of the Affairs of that Kingdom, than any that I have yet received;
for I did not think that you would have met with so much opposition
within your bounds, since (as I thought) you past well over a greater
difficulty, to wit, the Peevishness of the Council. The cause of
this I judge to be, that you did not make so much opposition against
the Protestation as it deserved, though (I believe) as much as you
could. But one thing I desire you to send me the reason of, which
is, why you have mingled the Protesters with my good Subjects,
as Commissioners in most of all the Shires, for the procuring of
Subscriptions to my Bond: now it seems to me, that this will make
the Covenanters oppose my Service with a shew of more Authority than
otherwise they could, (and certainly you cannot but imagine, that
they must oppose that that they have protested against;) for, by this
the ignorant Multitude may be brought to believe, that my Council
have either admitted, or, at least, do not gainsay, the protestation:
yet whether I be right in this or not, I will suspend my Judgment,
even of my own Opinion, until I hear from you. But one thing I will
confidently affirm, that until most of the Council express themselves
vigorously in detestation of this last damnable Protestation, never
look for any Obedience there. In the latter end of your letter, you
are very careful not to give them cause of Fears of my Preparations,
or hindering theirs; yet in the middle persuade to hasten on Mine:
now, besides that this seems to me a Contradiction I think that there
is as much (if not more) danger now, that they should imagine I fear
to displease them, than to make them scar at my Preparations, or
for stopping of theirs; for now that the pretext of Religion is (I
dare say) fully satisfied, fearful Proceeding now may hazard the
loss of the little Party we have, by making them probably fear, that
I either cannot or dare not maintain my own authority. But I doubt
not your Dexterity and Diligence will help me to break through these
difficulties; and so I rest
Your assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Hampton-Court,
9 Octob. 1638.
* * * * *
1638.—October 20.
81. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[106]
HAMILTON,
I see by yours of the 27ᵗʰ of September, that the Malignity of the
Covenanters is greater than ever, so that if you who are my true
Servants do not use extraordinary Care and Industry, my Affairs in
that Kingdom are likely rather to grow worse than better: therefore,
you that do your endeavours accordingly deserve the more praise,
and your opposers the more punishment; and in my mind this last
Protestation deserves more than any thing yet they have done, for
if raising of Sedition be Treason, this can be judged no less. And
methinks, if the Colledge of Justice have signed my Covenant, (which
I hope they have, because I hear nothing in the contrary) it were no
impossible thing to get them to doe me Justice in this particular.
And this I will say confidently, that until at least the Adherers to
this last Protestation be declared Traitors, nothing will go as it
ought in that Kingdom; I say this not to alter your course, but onely
to shew you my opinion of the State of Affairs.
As for the danger that Episcopal Government is in, I do not hold it
so much as you doe; for I believe that the number of those that are
against Episcopacy (who are not in their hearts against Monarchy) is
not so considerable as you take it.
And for this General Assembly, though I can expect no good from
it, yet I hope you may hinder much of the ill; first, by putting
Divisions among them concerning the Legality of their Elections, then
by Protestations against their Tumultuous Proceedings. And I think
it were not amiss if you could get their Freedom defined (before
their Meeting,) so that it were not done too much in their Favours.
And I hope you will remember to weigh well the Propositions for the
Assembly, and send them up to me with all convenient speed. I have
seconded your Letter to the Mayor of Newcastle for the freeing of
these Horses, and have stopped all Provisions according to your
advice at Hull; yet methinks now they may be avowed to go against
those that will not rest satisfied with what you have lately done in
my Name. But in this I assure you that I take your advice; and so I
rest
Your assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Hampton-Court,
20 Octob. 1638.
* * * * *
1638.—October 24.
82. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[107]
HAMILTON.
I would not answer your two of the 14ᵗʰ and 15ᵗʰ of this moneth, till
I had fully dispatched the Bishop of Ross, whom I have sent away not
onely well instructed, but well satisfied with my ways. It is true
that his Instructions were not totally according to our Grounds, but
I made him alter (I am confident) as well in Judgment as Obedience;
for upon discourse he much approved of my Alterations, confessing
likewise, that you upon the place may find reason to make more;
wherefore all is referred to you, as well what I answered as what
not; so leaving and recommending him to your care, I come to answer
your last Letters, with the account of which I am much more satisfied
than your other Dispatch before: as likewise you have fully satisfied
me in all my Queries, and in particular I confess clearly, you had
reason to joyn the Covenanters with my honest Servants, for procuring
of Subscriptions to my Bond, because I see the Council would have it
so. But certainly it had been better otherwise, if you could have
done it with their consent. In short, I am truly and fully satisfied
with all your proceedings, so that you may be confident that I am
Your assured constant Friend,
CHARLES R.
Whitehall,
24 Octob. 1638.
* * * * *
1638.—October 24.
83. _The Bill, or the complaint, of the Noblemen, Barons, Burgesses,
Ministers, and Commons, Covenanters, (which were not Commissionaries
to the Assembly) against the pretended Archbishops and Bishops within
this kingdome, as it was presented to the Presbyterie of Edinburgh;
with an Act of reference of the Bill, from the Presbyterie to the
next Generall Assembly, as it was fully read on the Lords day before
noone in all the Churches within the presbyterie of Edinburgh,
according to the Act._[108]
Noblemen.
Unto your wisedomes humbly shewes and complaines, We John Earle of
Sutherland, John Earle of Athole, William Earle of Dalhousie, Mungo
Vicount of Stormouth, Hugh Lord Montgomerie, David Lord Elcho, George
Lord Forrester, Arthur Lord Forbesse, John Master of Berridale,
Robert Lord Boyd, David Lord Balcarras, John Lord Melvill.
Barons and Gentlemen.
Craggemillar, Lugtoun, Buchanan, Young, Dury, Balgonny, Balbirny,
Master William Hammilton, Thomas Cragge of Ricarton, John Cowper
of Gogar, John Hammilton of Boghall, David Inglis of Ingliston,
John Dundas of Newliston, Sir William Cockburne of Langton, Patrick
Cockburne of Clerkinton, John Leslie of Newton, Colonel Alexander
Leslie, David Barclay of Onwerme, Sir Michael Arnot of Arnot, Sir
Michael Balfoure of Deanemille, John Aiton of Aiton, David Beaton
of Balfoure, John Lundie of Lundie, Walter Murray of Liviston, Sir
John Preston of Airdrie, Walter Cornwall of Bonhard, William Scot of
Ardrosse, Robert Forbosse of Ricesse, Sir Andrew Murray of Balvarde,
George Dundasse of Dudistone, Sir William Murray of Blebo, Master
Robert Preston, William Dicksone.
Ministers.
Master William Scot Minister at Cowper, Master George Hammiltoun at
Nuburne, Master Walter Grog at Balmerino, Master Iohn Machgil Parson
of Fliske, Master Andrew Blackhat at Aberlady.
Burgesses and Commons.
George Bruce of Carnock, George Potterfield a Burgesse of Glasgow,
John Smith, John Mill, Lawrence Henryson, Richard Maxwell, Burgesses
of Edinburgh.
We, for our selves, and in name and behalfe of the rest of the
Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgesses, Ministers, and Commons within
this Realme of Scotland, subscribers of the Covenant, who are not
chosen Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie, but who will assist
and insist in this complaint with us, as faithfull Christians, as
loyall subjects, and sensible members of this Church and Common-weale,
having interest to pursue this popular action, in a speciall manner
and an eminent degree, by which pursuit God may bee glorified, Christs
Kingdome advanced, that the Church may bee restored to her privileges
and liberties, and freed from manifold scandals, from the corrupters
of Doctrine with Poperie and Arminianisme, of the Sacraments with
Superstition and Wilworship, and of the Discipline with tyrannie, and
from the overthrowers of the peace of this Church and Kingdome by their
usurpations and lies, their violent humours, and falsehood for their
owne worldly ends, may be tried and censured accordingly, and so this
Church and State made free from the present divisions and combustions,
and restored to peace and unitie, both with God and amongst themselves,
and that his Majesties religious disposition and honour may be cleared
to all the world, by the triall and censure of those men who have
fraudulently abused his Majesties name and authoritie by their trust
and credit with his Majestie: Wee most earnestly make request, That
whereas, by the Lawes of this Church and Kingdome, and by his Majesties
last Proclamation, all his Majesties subjects, whether Ecclesiasticall
or Civill, of whatsoever title or degree, if they have exercised an
unlimited or unwarrantable power, They are declared and ordained to
be liable to the triall and censure of the Generall Assemblie and
Parliament, or to any other Judicatorie, according to the nature and
qualitie of the offence, And whereas Master David Lyndsey pretended
Bishop of Edinburgh, Master Thomas Sydserfe, pretended Bishop of
Galloway, Master Walter Whitefoord pretended Bishop of Brichen, Master
James Wedderburne pretended Bishop of Dumblane, Master James Fairley
pretended Bishop of Argyle, Master John Spotswood pretended Archbishop
of Saint Andrewes, (having their residences or dwelling places within
the bounds of this Presbyterie of Edinburgh,) Master Patrick Lyndsey
pretended Archbishop of Glasgow, Master Alexander Lyndsey pretended
Bishop of Dunkell, Master Adam Bannatine pretended Bishop of Aberdene,
Master John Gutherie pretended Bishop of Murray, Master John Maxwel
pretended Bishop of Rosse, Master George Greme pretended Bishop of
Orkney, Master John Abernethie pretended Bishop of Caithnesse, Master
Neil Campbel pretended Bishop of the Isles, should be tried and
censured for their unlimited and unwarranted power.
For whereas it was provided in the Cautions agreed upon in the Generall
Assemblie holden at Montrose, Anno 1600. for bounding of the Ministers
votes in Parliament, and concluded to bee inserted in the body of the
act of Parliament for confirmation of this vote as a most necessarie
and substantiall point of the same, which was never yet repealed by a
lawfull Assembly, That the Minister should sweare, upon his admission
to the office of Commissionary, to subscribe and fulfill the Cautions
agreed upon under the penalties expressed therein, otherwise hee was
not be admitted; yet the said Master David Lyndsey, sometimes Minister
of Brichen, now pretended Bishop of this Diocesse of Edinburgh, and
pretended Moderator of this Presbyterie, with his foresaid Colleagues,
the pretended Bishops and Archbishops of this Church respective, have
taken upon them (without craving or obtaining Commission from the
Church as it is set downe in that Assembly at Montrose) the office and
power to vote in Parliament, without swearing at his or their entrances
to subscribe and fulfill those Cautions which are set down under
penalties.
In the first Caution it was provided, that he presume not to propound
in Parliament, in Councell or convention, any thing in the name of
the Church without an expresse warrant or direction from the Church,
under the paine of deposition from his office; and that hee should
neither give consent unto, nor keep silence from anything (amidst these
meetings) that might bee prejudiciall to the libertie of the Church,
under the said paine.
But the forenamed Master David Lyndsey, pretended Bishop of Edinburgh,
with the rest of his Colleagues respective above named, have presumed
(having no warrant nor direction from the Church) to propound in
Parliament, and to consent to several acts which have past in
Parliament, to the prejudice of the Church, as namely, To the act
concerning the Restitution of the State of Bishops, Anno 1606. the act
concerning the chapter of Saint Andrewes, Anno 1607. To the act of
Commissariots and jurisdictions given to Archbishops and Bishops, Anno
1609. To the ratification of the act agreed upon in the Assemblie of
Glasgow, Anno 1610. with an explanation, contrary to the meaning and
tenour of the said conclusions, Anno 1612. To the acts concerning the
Elections of Archbishops and Bishops, and to the acts concerning the
Restitution of chapiters, Anno 1617. To the ratification of the Five
Articles of Perth, Anno 1621. To the act concerning the apparell of
Churchmen, and to the ratification of the Acts concerning Religion, in
which all the former Acts are included, Ann. 1633. and to many other
severall acts of this kinde. In like manner he propounded and gave
consent to severall acts of the Privy Councell, for the establishing
of it, and of the power of the High Commission, which are against the
lawes and liberties of this kingdome; and for ratification of severall
acts and sentences given out by them and their Colleagues in that
unwarrantable Judicatory: for in the same manner did he propound and
consent unto the acts made in the Privie Councell for pressing and
bringing in of the Service Booke, which would have trod under foot
the frame of Gods publicke worship in this Kingdome, if the Lord had
not prevented it. And further, in the last convention of the States
holden in the yeeres 1625. and 1629. he did not onely keep silence, but
propound and give consent to some things which were prejudiciall to
the liberties of this Church, and hee did oppose himselfe to the just
desires and grievances which were presented in name of the Church for
some of her liberties and priviledges, whereas it was provided that
he shall be bound upon each generall Assembly to give an account of
the discharge of his Commission since the Assembly going before, and
should submit himselfe to the censure of the Assembly, and stand to the
determinations of it without further Appeale, and should sue for, and
obtain ratification of his carriage from the Assembly, under the paine
of infamie and excommunication; but the said Master David Lyndsey, and
his Colleagues respective abovenamed, have never given an account of
the discharge of his or their Commissions, nor sought nor have obtained
ratification of his or their doings, from the Assembly.
Whereas it was provided in the third caution, that he should content
himselfe with that portion of the Benefice which should be assigned to
him from his Majestie for his livelihood, not hurting or prejudging
the rest of the Ministers, or any Minister whatsoever, planted or
to bee planted within his Benefice, and that this clause was to be
inserted in his provision: Besides, when Bishops were charged in the
Assembly holden in Octob. Ann. 1578. to quit the corruptions of that
State, there was numbered amongst the corruptions, That they received
for the maintaining of their ambition and riot, the emoluments of the
Church, which might sustaine many Pastors, the Schooles, and the Poor;
but the said Master David Lyndsey with his Colleagues respective, have
tooke provision for their Benefices, and the foresaid clause was not
inserted, and he and they have prejudged Ministers, Schooles, and the
Poor, by taking and enjoying plurality of Benefices.