concerning the Remedies of the present Danger of Religion, p. 9.
_July 11._ Committee for the Remedies of the Dangers of Religion, p. 13.
_July 13._ Warrant to print the Answer of the Convention to the
Remonstrance of the General Assembly, and the Second Remonstrance, p.
13.
_July 14._ Declaration of the Parliament of England, (June 27, 1643,)
p. 13.
_July 17._ Answer of the Estates to the Declaration of the Parliament
of England, p. 14.
_Aug. 17._ Covenant to be betwixt the two Kingdoms, p. 41. The Estates’
Approbation of the Covenant, p. 43.
_Aug. 26._ The Result of the Treaty with the English Commissioners,
(Aug. 25, 1643,) p. 47. Declaration of the Estates to the Parliament
of England, p. 50. Earl of Leven appointed Lord General, p. 59. Act
anent Non-Covenanters’ Estates, p. 61. Act for putting the Kingdom in
a posture of Defence, p. 61.
1644.
_Jan. 4._ Act ordaining the Rents of Non-Covenanters to be uplifted
for the use of the Public.—Acts, vol. vi., p. 61. (See below.) Act for
putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence, p. 61.
_Jan. 6._ Act anent Presentation of Ministers by Presbyteries to Crown
Patronages, p. 66. Declaration of both Kingdoms as to Defence of
Religion, &c., p. 66. (See below.)
_June 28._ Instructions for the Commissioners who are to go to England,
p. 101.
_July 15._ Act anent Ratification of calling Convention, Ratification
of League and Covenant, Articles of Treaty, &c., p. 106.
_July 16._ Commission to those sent to England concerning Treaty of
Peace, p. 115.
_July 23._ Act discharging Execution of Captions on Sunday, p. 127.
Act anent Divorce for Adultery, p. 127. Act discharging Patronages
belonging to particular Ministers, p. 128. Act against Tavern-keepers
selling Drink on Sunday, p. 128. Act declaring the Books of Ministers
surviving their Wives, not to fall in their Wives’ Executry, p. 128.
Act declaring Vacant Stipends should be employed upon Pious Uses, p.
128. Ratification of Act of Convention concerning Presentations to
Kirks of his Majesty’s Patronage, p. 129. Act in favour of Ministers
for their Stipends—Universities, &c., anent Malignants’ Rents, p.
129. Act anent Universities of St Andrew’s, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and
Edinburgh, p. 129.
_July 24._ Act renewing Commission for Plantation of Kirks and
Valuation of Teinds, p. 130.
_July 27._ Act extending former Acts anent Designation of Manses
and Gleibs to Ministers, p. 142. Ratification in favour of Town of
Edinburgh of Mortification granted to them of the Bishopricks of Orkney
and Edinburgh, and Deanery of Edinburgh, p. 158.
_July 29._ Renewing Commission for Conserving Peace, p. 155 and 157.
* * * * *
1644.—Jan. 4.
_Act anent Non-Covenanters’ Estates._[330]
The Conventione ordains the estatis and rentis of all sutche as ar
sentenced for not subscryveing the Covenant to be maid furthcumeand and
vpliftit for the vse of the publict, reserving alwayes pouer to the
Committie of Estaitis to modifie some allowance for mantenance of their
wyffis and childrine within the countrey, as they sall think fitting,
&c.
* * * * *
1644.—Jan. 6.
_Act anent Presentation of Ministers._[331]
The Convention of Estates having this day receavit an Act of the
Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie, for planting of Kirks of His
Majesties Patronage dureing the tyme of these troubles, presented
unto them by Maister Robert Douglas, Moderator, and Maister Androw
Ramsay. And haveing considered the samyne, and the recommendation
therin contained for provydeing some way, by authoritie of this
Convention, for setleing and possessing the intrants in the stipendis
and benefices belonging to these Kirkes, and finding no way so
fitt for that end, and for preserveing the right and possession of
the Patronages to his Majestie, then that, in this tyme of trouble,
presentationes pass his Majesties caschett and Privie Seale, quhilk is
alyke, and is hereby declaired to be of as great force and authoritie
as if the samyne had past his Majesties royall handis, Therefore gives
hereby warrand and command to the Commissioners of the Thesaurerie, or
anie one of them, to recive presentations frome Presbyteries to all
Kirkes of his Majesties patronages, vaiking, or quhilk heirefter sall
vaike during these troubles, and to signe the samyne, and ordaines the
samyne, swa signed, to passe his Majesties caschett, and therefter the
Privie Seale, and that all Letters and executorialls necessar be direct
thereupon, &c.
THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
AT EDINBURGH, 1645.
The Assembly of 1644, at its rising, appointed the next meeting in
May, 1645; but the important military and political movements which at
that period agitated the whole British dominions, rendered an earlier
meeting expedient. The first Triennial Parliament of Scotland (which
met, according to the enactments on the subject, in 1641) having, at
the close of its session, in the summer of 1644, been continued to the
first Tuesday of January following—and the Assembly being now virtually
an integral branch of the Scottish Legislature, in regard to political
as well as spiritual affairs—the Commission convoked an extraordinary
Assembly, to be held on the 22d of January, 1645, at the same time with
the meeting of Estates, which assembled on the first Tuesday of that
month.
It is quite impossible, in the narrow limits to which we are confined,
to attempt giving anything like a full or correct picture of the
miserable state of anarchy, wrangling, bloodshed, and terror, which
pervaded these kingdoms during the few months which intervened betwixt
the two Assemblies of 1644 and 1645: the interminable altercations
which took place among theologians, politicians, and cavillers of
every conceivable description, fill volumes. After above three years’
confinement in the Tower, Laud, the ousted Archbishop of Canterbury,
was, to gratify the Scotch, put upon his trial by the English
Parliament; and, on the 10th of January, 1644, the Covenanters were
fully avenged, in his blood on the scaffold, for the part he took in
regard to the Service-Book of 1637.
But, reverting to military operations, we may just notice that, on
Sunday, the 3d of July, 1644, the Battle of Marston Moor was fought,
betwixt the King’s troops and the combined armies of the English and
Scotch Parliaments, when the latter obtained a decisive but dearly-won
victory. The King lost 10,000 men in killed and prisoners, forty-seven
standards, and twenty-five pieces of cannon, besides great store of
arms and munitions. This battle is memorable as being the first great
occasion on which the military genius of Oliver Cromwell shone forth
conspicuously, and as the commencement of a course by which he ascended
to supreme power in the State.
To counterbalance this and other successes in England, an insurrection
in the King’s favour, of which Montrose was the guiding spirit, took
place in Scotland, of which, however, it were superfluous to give
minute details. But while the flower of the Scottish army was engaged
in co-operating with the Parliamentary forces in England, Montrose
successively achieved victories of the most brilliant and extraordinary
character in Scotland. In various quarters, he carried all before his
handful of brave but undisciplined followers. He ravaged Glenorchy and
Argyle; and, throughout the eccentric tract of his daring and desultory
career, he filled the hearts of the Covenanters with terror and with a
dark revenge, which was only quenched in his blood when, after other
triumphs equally splendid, he was betrayed into their hands. Suffice
it to state that, on the 1st of September, 1644, he defeated at
Tibbermuir, near Perth, a superior body of the Covenanters, commanded
by Lord Elcho, although they were nearly double in numbers to his raw
levies of Highlanders and Irish. A force, well appointed with cavalry
and artillery, was completely routed by a band without artillery, and
in which there were only three horses. Perth surrendered at discretion
to the victors. He proceeded northwards to Aberdeen, secured the
Bridge of Dee, and, on the 14th of the same month, stormed and sacked
that city. He thence passed farther north; but superior forces being
in his front, he doubled on his pursuer Argyle—who ever kept at a
convenient distance in his rear—entered Badenoch, dashed through Atholl
and Angus-shire, and back to Strathbogie—repulsed an attack on him
by the Earl of Lothian, at Fyvie Castle; and, by all these rapid and
successful movements, exhausted the military ardour of Argyle, who
betook himself to winter quarters, and retired to Inverary, in a false
security, which proved fatal to his military reputation.
About the middle of December, however, Montrose, even with diminished
forces, penetrated through the snows of winter, and, in paths hitherto
untrodden by the feet of soldiers in hostile array, descended like
an avalanche upon Argyleshire, where, from the 13th of December,
1644, till the end of the month of January, 1645, the wild heroism
of Montrose’s band carried slaughter and desolation throughout the
territories of his chief antagonist, and the chief pillar also of the
Covenant. Argyle himself, surprised and panic-struck, escaped in a
fishing-boat, leaving his kinsmen and clan to the ravages of a fierce
and vindictive enemy, without even striking, or attempting to strike,
one gallant blow for the honour and the cause of Maccallamore. After
satiating his followers with vengeance and plunder, Montrose retired
towards Inverness, with the view of rallying the northern clans under
the banner of the King, and of speedily renewing his campaign with
renovated energy and augmented power. But here, for the present, we
pause in our notices of his exploits; for it was while these operations
were in progress—while the terror of his name filled all broad Scotland
with alarm—and his meteor-like career inspired alike its chiefs and its
peasantry with apprehension, lest some unexpected bolt might strike
their dwellings—that the Estates and General Assembly convened in the
end of January, 1645.
Coincident with the meeting of the Scottish Estates and Assembly,
an attempt was made at pacification betwixt the King and both his
Parliaments. On the 21st of January, the King granted a safe conduct to
negotiators from both these bodies—Henderson being one of those from
Scotland; and Uxbridge, near Oxford, was the place appointed for their
meeting with Commissioners on the part of the King. Among the topics of
negotiation, religion was, of course, a leading one. His Majesty was
required to sanction a Bill for the Abolition of Prelacy—the Ordinance
for the Assembly of Divines—to consent to a Directory, and certain
other debatable propositions—all amounting to an establishment of
Presbytery in England; and further, that the King should join in the
Solemn League and Covenant, and concur in an Act of Parliament binding
all the people of Britain to take it, under such penalties as might
be decided on by the two Parliaments. After a fruitless and prolonged
controversy—the King having refused to acquiesce in these proposals—the
treaty broke off, and left the country in the same state of confusion.
And even before the establishment of Presbytery in England was thus
pertinaceously insisted on, the Independent faction in the English
Parliament had laid a train of intrigues, by which the scheme was, ere
long, rendered utterly abortive.
THE PRINCIPALL ACTS
OF THE GENERALL ASSEMBLY, MET OCCASIONALLY AT EDINBURGH, JANUARY 22,
1645.
Die Jovis, 23 Jan. 1645. Post Meridiem.
Sess. II.
_The Letter from the Commissioners at London to the Generall Assembly._
Right Honourable, Reverend, and beloved in the Lord.
As we are not without the knowledge, so are we not without the feeling
of the distresses of our Native Countrey, and of the Troubles of our
dear Brethren, specially that the hand of the Lord is stretched
out against you, not only by Invasion from without of the basest of
the children of men, but also by the unnaturall treachery of some
within, who have dealt perfidiously in the Covenant and Cause of God:
They hisse and gnash the teeth; they say, Wee have swallowed her up:
certainly this is the day that wee looked for: wee have found, wee
have seen it; the Lord hath caused thine Enemy to rejoyce over thee,
he hath set up the horn of thine Adversaries: Yet (saith the Lord, who
is thy maker and thy husband, the Lord of hosts is his name, and thy
redeemer the holy One of Israel) for a small moment have I forsaken
thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I
hide my face from thee, for a moment; but with everlasting kindnesse
will I have mercy on thee: for this is as the waters of Noah, the
Covenant of my peace shall not be removed, saith the Lord that hath
mercy on thee. When the foundation of the House of the Lord was laid,
the Priests and Levites sung together in praising and giving thanks
to the Lord, Because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever. And
we hope at this time upon the coming of our reverend Brethren, and
the sight of that which they bring with them, the noise of the shout
of joy, shall be louder than the noise of the weeping of the People.
This we may say, that not many years ago, many of us would have been
content to have losed our lives, that we might have obtained that which
the Lord, if not in a miraculous, yet in a marvellous and mercifull
providence, hath brought to passe in this Iland, in these dayes, which
many before us, have desired to see, and have not seen. God forbid
that it should seeme a small thing in your eyes which is done here
already, as it is expressed in a Paper from the Parliament, and Letters
from the Assembly. Ye are best acquainted with the tentations and
difficulties which ye meet with there, which are also very sensible
unto us; And when we consider how the Lord hath carried on his work
here at the first taking of the Covenant, and since, against much
learning and contradiction, against much Policie, power, and all sorts
of opposition (such as Reformation useth to encounter) we are ravished
with admiration of the right hand of the Almighty. For our part, we
may confidently avouch in the sight of GOD and before you, whom next
unto GOD we do respect and reverence, and to whom as your servants
we are accomptable, that in all our proceedings we had first of all
the word of GOD before our eyes for the Rule; and for our Patern the
Church of Scotland, so much as was possible; and no lesse (if not more)
then if all this time since we parted from you, we had been sitting
in a Nationall Assembly there, and debating matters with our Brethren
at home: Where we were not able to get every thing framed to our
minde, we have endeavoured as much as we could, to preserve our own
Reformation and practice, of which our Brethren will give you accompt
in the particulars, we hope, to your satisfaction. That a Uniformitie
in every thing is not obtained in the beginning, let it not seem
strange; The levelling of the high Mountain of Prelacie, The laying
aside of the Book of Common Prayer, The Directory of Worship concluded
in both Houses of Parliament, and the principal Propositions of
Church-government passed in the Assembly, all of them according to the
Solemne League and Covenant, the greatest of all, are three or foure
witnesses to prove that the Lord hath done great things for us, whereof
we are glad, and which make us like them that dream: And we are sure,
that not onely the Reformed Kirks, but the Papists will say, the Lord
hath done great things for them.
All that we desire, is: 1. That the Directory of Worship may be
returned by our Brethren with all possible exediption, that it may be
published here, and put in practice, as that which is extreamely longed
for by the good People, and will be a remedy of the many differences
and divisions about the Worship of God in this Kingdome, especially in
this place: If there be any thing in it that displeaseth, let it be
remonstrate upon irrefragable and convincing reason, otherwise ye will
in your wisedome give approbation to it. 2. If there be any particular
differences among some Brethren, which are not determined, but passed
over in silence in the Directory, and yet hinted at in the Letter
from the Assembly, we hope that in your wisedome ye will so consider
of them, that they may be layde aside in due time, and that in the
meanwhile, till the Directory be concluded and put in practice, there
be no trouble about them, for that were as Snow in Summer, and as Rain
in Harvest. We know nothing of that kinde, that all of us who love
Unitie, Order, and Edification, may not perfectly agree in, without
scandall or disturbance: And we beseech the Lord to keep that Kirk free
of such Sects and Monsters of Opinions, as are daily set on foot and
multiplied in this Kingdome, through the want of that Church-government
by Assemblies, which hath preserved us, and we hope, through the
blessing of God, shall cure them. 3. Because Nationall Assemblies
cannot frequently conveene, we humbly desire, that such a Commission
may be settled, as we may at all occasions, til the Work be finished,
have our recourse unto, for our direction and resolution: for we know
both our own weaknesse, and the greatnesse of the Work: wherein we can
promise no more but to be faithfull in obeying your commandments, as in
the sight of God, whom with our Souls we pray, to grant you his Spirit,
to guide you into all truth: And thus continue
Your humble and faithfull Servants
_Subscrib._ LOUDOUN.
ALEX. HENDERSON.
JO. MAITLAND.
SAM. RUTHERFURD.
Worcester house, Jan. 6, 1645.
DIRECT.
For the Right Reverend the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland.
* * * * *
_The Letter from the Synode of Divines in England, to the Generall
Assembly._
Right honourable, right reverend, and dearly beloved in the LORD
JESUS,
As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far Countrey.
We your Brethren, yet remaining in the Furnace of affliction, and still
labouring in the very fire, Have at length, by the good Hand of GOD
upon us, attained so far toward the Mark at which we all aime, that we
shall now send you, by two of your Reverend and Faithful Commissioners
Mr Robert Bailie, and Mr George Gillespie (our much honoured Brethren)
some good news of that great Work, after which your zeal for Truth and
Peace hath so much thirsted, and for which you have not loved your
lives unto the death.
Our progresse therein hath not been so expeditious as was desired and
expected. This, unto such as either know not, or consider not, The
weight and greatnesse of the Work, nor The manifold difficulties which
have occurred to obstruct our proceedings in this day of darknesse and
calamity (too sad to be expressed) hath been like unto hope deferred,
which makes the heart sick: Howbeit, we trust, That when their desire
(namely that which we have prepared, and are further in travell with)
shall come unto them, It will be, through God, a Tree of life, as to
our great comfort and encouragement, we already perceive it to be to
both the honourable Houses of Parliament.
Touching the severall Papers brought to us from your Honourable and
Reverend Commissioners, by the hands of the Committee appointed to
treat with them in matters of Religion (one of the Papers, being
given in the 10 of November 1643, Concerneth the severall sorts of
Church-officers and Assemblies: Another, bearing date the 24 of
January 1643, Concerneth Congregationall Elderships, and Classical
Presbyteries: The other, being presented the 15 of August last,
representeth the necessity of making greater speed in setling the
intended Uniformity in Religion, according to the late solemne
Covenant:) We hold it our duty, in regard both of the arct and
inseparable Union, which the Lord hath happily and seasonably made
between you and us, and of your indefatigable and inestimable labour of
love to this afflicted Kingdom, to give your Lordships and the rest of
that Venerable Assembly, some brief account.
Concerning one Confession of Faith, and Forme of Catechisme, we make
no question of a blessed and perfect harmony with you. The publick
Doctrine, held out by our Church to all the World (especially when it
shall be reviewed, which is in great part done) concurring so much with
yours, may assure you of your hearts desire in those particulars, so
soon as time and opportunity may give us liberty to perfect what we
have begun.
The chief reason of laying aside the review of our Publick Doctrine,
after the happy and much desired arrival of your Reverend Commissioners
here, was, The drawing up and accelerating of a Directory for Worship,
and of a Forme of Church-Government; in both of which we stood at
a greater distance from other Reformed Churches of Christ, and
particularly from yours (which we very much honour) with whom our
solemne sacred Nationall Covenant requireth us to endeavour the nearest
Conjunction and Uniformity, that we and our posterity after us, may as
Brethren live in Faith and Love, and the Lord may delight to dwell in
the midst of us.
Nor have our labours therein been frustrate: For we have perfected and
transmitted a Directory for Worship, to both Houses of Parliament,
where it hath received such acceptance, that it is now passed in both
the Honourable Houses of Parliament; which we hope will be to the joy
and comfort of all our godly and dear Brethren in all His Majesties
Kingdoms and Dominions.
We have not advised any imposition which might make it unlawfull to
vary from it in any thing; Yet we hope, all our Reverend Brethren in
this Kingdom, and in yours also, will so far value and reverence that
which upon so long debate and serious deliberation hath been agreed
upon in this Assembly (when it shall also passe with you, and be setled
as the common publick Directory for all the Churches in the three
Kingdoms) that it shall not be the lesse regarded and observed. And
albeit we have not expressed in the Directory every minute particular,
which is or might be either laid aside or retained among us, as comely
and usefull in practice; yet we trust, that none will be so tenacious
of old customs not expressly forbidden, or so averse from good
examples although new, in matters of lesser consequence, as to insist
upon their liberty of retaining the one, or refusing the other, because
not specified in the Directory; but be studious to please others rather
then themselves.
We have likewise spent divers moneths in the search of the
Scriptures, to finde out the minde of Christ concerning a Forme of
Church-government, wherein we could not but expect the greatest
difficulty: For our better Progresse herein, wee have with all respect
considered the severall Papers of your Honourable and Reverend
Commissioners touching this Head; and do with all thankfulnesse,
acknowledge their great zeal, judgement, and wisdom expressed therein;
as also, the excellent assistance and great furtherance of your
Reverend Commissioners in this great Work; which now, through GODS
goodnesse, is very near to a period also.
In pursuit whereof, we made a strict survey and scrutinie of every
Proposition, that we might finde it agreeable to, and warranted by
the Word of God, in a method of our own; without resting upon any
particular modell or frame whatsoever already constituted: What we have
performed, and how farre we have proceeded therein, we leave to the
information of your Reverend Commissioners, who have been eye and ear
witnesses of all that hath past, and we doubt not but you will shortly
receive a satisfactory answer from hence, so soon as it shall be passed
in the Honourable Houses of Parliament.