Borders, concerning the insolencie of Moss-Troupers. _Ib._
70.—Recom. of the Petition of the unprovided Ministers within the
Provinces of Aberdene, Murray, and Rosse to the Parliament, and
Commission of Parliament for Plantation of Kirks. _Ib._
71.—Recom. to the Parliament, for changing the Fairs upon Mundayes to
some other day. _Ib._
72.—Ref. to the Presbyterie of Lochmaben, for going on in the processe
against M. Geo. Pryde. With a Recom. to E. Hartfell, to possesse the
Minister to the Kirk, And concerning M. Tho. Chambers Gleib. _Ib._
73.—Two Letters from the Commissioners at London. _Sess._ 13.
74.—Act authorizing Master Alexander Henderson to assist the
Commissioners of Parliament in the Treatie at Uxbridge, in matters
concerning Religion. _Ib._
75.—Ref. of the Proposition concerning Excommunication to the Committee
for the Directory. _Ib._
76.—Ref. of the Propositions concerning Government to the Committee for
the Directory. _Ib._
77.—Deposition of M. George Halyburtoun. _Ib._
78.—Renovation of the Commission, for trying and censuring the Ryot of
Stanikirk. _Sess._ 14.
79.—Renovation of the Commission, for visiting the Universitie of S.
Andrews. _Ib._
80.—Renovation of the Commission, for visiting the Universitie of
Glasgow. _Ib._
81.—Indiction of a Fast. _Ib._
82.—Committee for presenting the Petition to the Parliament. _Ib._
83.—Act for a Minister to preach to the Lord Uchiltrie in the
Blacknesse. _Ib._
84.—Ordinance for M. James Campbell, his attending my Lord Coupers
Regiment. _Ib._
85.—Invitation of any that had doubts concerning the Propositions of
Government, &c. to come to the Committee for Resolution. _Ib._
86.—Ordinance for M. John Govans repairing to my Lord Kirkcudbrights
Regiment. _Ib._
87.—Recom. to the Presbyteries of Linlithgow and Stirling, for a
voluntar Contribution of Clothes to the Earl of Calendars Regiment.
_Ib._
88.—Act for admitting M. James Levingstoun Minister to the E. of
Calendars Regiment. _Ib._
89.—Ordinance for M. John Hoomes attendance for the E. of Lanricks
Regiment of Foot. _Ib._
90.—Ref. to the Presbyterie of Peebles, to consider M. Robert Scots
Bill, and to appoint another of their number to Balgonies Regiment, in
case his reasons be found good. _Sess._ 15.
91.—Ref. M. Alexander Robertson to the Commission at Edinburgh. _Ib._
92.—Act concerning the admission of M. David Houstoun to the Kirk of
Tyrie. _Ib._
93.—Deposition of M. John Grahame. _Ib._
94.—Recom. of the Petition concerning the Kirk of Logie-Montrose to the
Parliament, or their Commission for the Plantation of Kirks. _Ib._
95.—Recom. of M. James Hammiltoun his reliefe to the Parliament.
_Sess._ 16.
96.—The Propositions of Government and Ordination. _Ib._
97.—Act concerning the Printing of M. Robert Boyds Commentar upon the
Ephesians. _Ib._
98.—Act discharging the Printing or Re-printing of the said
Commentarie, and of the continuation of the History of the Kirk, and
of M. David Dicksons short Explication of the Apostolicall Epistles,
without the consent of M. John Boyd, and of the Authors of the other
Works respective, With a Recommendation to the Parliament for their
authority to that effect. _Ib._
99.—Warrant for Printing M. Robert Boyds Opuscula. _Ib._
100.—Recommendation of the Kirk of Calder to the Parliament. _Ib._
101.—Recommendation of the petition of M. Alexander Trotter to the
Commission of Parliament for plantation of Kirks. _Ib._
102.—Reference to the Commission at Edinburgh for petitioning the
Parliament That Commissions may be granted for visitation of Hospitals
in every Province. _Ib._
103.—Recommendation to the Synod of Aberdene, to crave account of the
Laird of Drum his Bursars, and of any others in that Province. _Ib._
104.—Sentence absolvitour of M. James Oliphant, with a rebuke and
admonition of the particulars proven. _Ib._
105.—Recommendation of M. John Weirs wifes Bill to the Parliament. _Ib._
106.—Act giving Warrant to the Commissioners at London, to agree to the
clause concerning Excommunication. _Sess._ 17.
107.—Act concerning the Earl of Athols right of presenting to the Kirk
of Blair in Athol. _Ib._
108.—Reference of a Bigamist to the Justice. _Ib._
109.—Act giving power to M. John Stuart to preach at the Kirk of
Dungarth, as an Expectant, while the Presbytery or Synod sit. _Ib._
110.—Recommendation to the Parliament concerning Thomas Mackie. _Ib._
111.—Act for intimating M. George Halyburtouns deposition. _Ib._
112.—Act concerning the planting of the Kirk of Aberdour. _Ib._
113.—Suspension of M. John Robertson. With a Reference to the
Commission at Edinburgh for his further tryal and censure. _Ib._
114.—Deposition of M. John Fyfe. _Ib._
115.—Recom. M. Samuel Rows petition to the Parliament. _Ib._
116.—Commission for visitation of the University of Aberdene. _Ib._
117.—Act for changing the Presbytery seat of Aberdene, from the old
Town, to the new Town of Aberdene. _Ib._
118.—Recommen. and Reference to the Commission at Edinburgh, for
planting the Kirk and Colledge of Aberdene. _Ib._
119.—Reference of the petition given in by M. Thomas Mitchel, from the
Presbytery of Turreff, and the Vicount of Frendraught for himself, and
in name of the Parochiners of Aberchirdour and Innerkethin, to the
Commission appointed for visitation of the University of Aberdene.
_Sess._ 18.
120.—Ref. of the Petition of the Commissioners of the Presbytery of
Strabogie to the said Commission for visitation of Aberdene. _Ib._
121.—Recom. to the Parliament of M. George Wisharts Bill for his
maintenance. _Ib._
122.—Ref. to the Commission at Edinburgh, for planting the Kirks of
Edinburgh with three Ministers out of the Province of Lothian. _Ib._
123.—Ref. to the said Commission at Aberdene, for tryall and censure of
Master George Hannah. _Ib._
124.—Ordinance for Master Alexander Moncreiffs repairing to my Lord
Balcarras Regiment. _Ib._
125.—Committee for presenting the Propositions of Government, and of
the solemne Warning, to the Parliament. _Ib._
126.—Recom. of Isabel Peebles Bill to the Parliament, and the Committee
of losses. _Ib._
127.—Ref. of Patrick Strauchan to the Presbytery of Deere. _Ib._
128.—Deposition of Master James Row. _Ib._
129.—Declaration in favours of Ministers that cannot keep their houses
in thir times of troubles. _Sess._ 19.
130.—Ref. to the Commission of the Kirk of the Lord Ogilvies Bill, with
a Reference to the Parliament of the latter part of it. _Ib._
131.—Ref. of the Laird of Lamingtouns Bill to the Province of Glasgow.
_Ib._
132.—Act concerning Col. Areskines Regiment. _Ib._
133.—Recommendation of the petition of the Parochiners of Larbar, to
the Commission for plantation of Kirks. _Ib._
134.—Commission for visitation of the Hospitals of Perth and Stirling.
_Ib._
135.—Recommendation of the education of the Lord Semples children to
the Earle of Eglintoun. _Ib._
136.—Ordinance to the Presbytery of Turreff, for excommunicating M.
John Forbes, sometime Minister at Auchinles, and of M. William Lowman,
sometime Minister at Cromartie. _Ib._
137.—Ref. M. William Sibbald to the Presbyterie of Edinb. _Ib._
138.—Ref. M. Alexander Robertson to the Presbyterie of Kincardin. _Ib._
139.—Ref. of the tryall and censure of Master John Cheene to the
Commission for visitation of the Universitie of Aberdene. _Ib._
140.—Recom. of the Bill concerning the Theeves in the Borders to the
Parliament. _Ib._
141.—Commission for visitation of the Hospitals, and mortified moneyes
within the Province of Aberdene. _Ib._
142.—Commission for visitation of the Hospitals within the Province of
Angus. _Ib._
143.—Act in favours of the deposed Ministers referred unto the
Commission of the Assembly at Edinburgh. _Ib._
144.—Recommendation to the Parliament for punishing the murther of
Master Patrick Lindsay. _Ib._
145.—Recommendation to the Commission of the Assembly at Edinburgh,
to present the Propositions of Government to the Parliament, and to
receive their answer thereunto. _Ib._
146.—Recommendation to the said Commission to urge all meanes for M.
James Hammiltouns relief. _Ib._
147.—Letter to the Brethren of the Ministerie in Ireland. _Ib._
148.—Letter to Gen. Major Monro. _Ib._
149.—Act appointing Mr Hugh Kennedie for the first three moneths,
beginning the first of July, Mr. Andro Lawder for the second three
moneths, Mr. George Hutchisone for the last three moneths to repair to
London-Darie. _Ib._
150.—Letter in favours of Margaret Thomson to the Presbytrie of
Kirkcudbright. _Ib._
151.—Ref. to the Commission of the Assembly sitting at Edinburgh, to
present Overtures to the Parliament for the good of the Kirk, and
advancement of Piety, and to prosecute these presented in the preceding
Sessions of Parliament. _Ib._
152.—Ref. to the said Commission To present an Overture to the Parl.
that Presbyteries may plant the Kirks which are of the patronage of
forfaulted and Excommunicate Persons. _Ib._
153.—Ref. to the said Commission to present an Overture for restraining
of Printing without Licence. _Ib._
154.—Act appointing Master James Woods entrie to S. Andrews, To bee the
first Tuesday of June. _Ib._
155.—Ref. to the said Commission for presenting some Overtures to the
Parliament, for restraining the education of Youth in the Colledge of
Doway, or any other corrupt Colledge.
156.—Ref. of the Summonds against those that joyned with Montrose to
the said Commission at Edinburgh. _Ib._
157.—Ref. to the said Commis. concerning Witches and Charmers. _Ib._
158.—Ref. to the said Commission To revise the Paraphrase of the
Psalmes. _Ib._
159.—Ref. to the said Commis. concerning the transplanting of M. Ja.
Nasmith. _Ib._
160.—Appointment of Master Robert Baillie, M. Geo. Gillespie, and the
Lord Waristoun To repair to England with all diligence. _Ib._
161.—Ref. of the Summonds against the Subscribers of the Declaration at
Oxford to the said Comis. _Ib._
162.—Recom. of some distressed Persons to the charity of Presbyteries
and Synods. _Ib._
FINIS.
=Miscellaneous Historical Documents,=
RELATIVE TO THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN SCOTLAND—1645.
1. _Excerpts from Principal Baillie’s Account of the Westminster
Assembly, continued from page 414._
_My Assembly Speech._
Right Honourable, Right Reverend Fathers and Brethren,—It is the joy
of our heart, and the refreshing of our weariness, after a long and
troublesome journey, to behold the chearful face of this most venerable
assembly; whom we pray God to bless, and all these honourable
companies we are come from, does heartily salute in the Lord.
Our main errand hither at this time is, as you all know, to give some
account, as God shall enable our weakness, of the employment of your
servants and commissioners, and our Honourable and Reverend Brethren
at London, who now a whole year and divers months have, with all care,
attended the assembly and parliament there, for the furthering and
advancement in that uniformity in divine worship and church-government,
which both nations have sworn in their Solemn League and Covenant. The
success which God, according to your prayers, hath been pleased to
grant to our labour, you will better see than we can report, in the
papers which we have brought from the Honourable Houses of Parliament,
to be communicate when your wisdom shall think it seasonable to call
for them. The sum of all, as we conceive, is well expressed in the
letter of our dear colleagues to this venerable meeting, which here we
offer; as also in that other letter of that Reverend assembly at London
to that same meeting, which here likewise we present.
We can add nothing to that which from these letters you will hear
read; only with your Reverences permission and favour, we are bold to
profess, that God has done great things for poor Scotland, wherein
our hearts doth rejoice; and we are confident, that the hearts of the
godly posterity will not only rejoice, but wonder, when they look back
on the footsteps of the Lord in his glorious work. When the bishops
of England had put upon the neck of our church and nation the yoke,
first of their Episcopacy, then of their ceremonies, 3dly, the whole
mass of a service-book, and with it the body of Popery; when both our
church and state did groan under an insupportable slavery; to have been
freed of these burdens; to have been restored unto the purity of our
first reformation, and the ancient liberty of our kingdom; to have had
bishops, ceremonies, book and state slavery reformed, we would lately
have esteemed it a mercy above all our praises; but now, beholding the
progress of the Lord, how he has led us by the hand, and marched before
us to the homes and holds of our injurious oppressors; how there he has
made bare his holy arm, and brought the wheel of his vengeance upon the
whole race and order of prelates in England, and has plucked up the
root, and all the branches of Episcopacy in all the King’s dominions;
that an assembly and parliament in England unanimously, but which is
their word, abolished not only these ceremonies which troubled us,
but the whole service-book, as a very idol, so speak they also, and
a vessel full of much mischief; that in place of Episcopacy a Scots
presbytery should be concluded in an English assembly, and ordained
in an English parliament, as it is already ordained in the House of
Commons; that the practice of the church of Scotland, set down in a
most wholesome, pious, and prudent directory, should come in the place
of a liturgy in all the three dominions; such stories lately told,
would have been counted fancies, dreams, mere impossibilities: yet
this day we tell them as truths, and deeds done, for the great honour
of our God, and, we are persuaded, the joy of many a godly soul. If
any will not believe our report, let them trust their own eyes; for
behold here the warrant of our words, written and subscribed by the
hands of the clerks of the parliament of England, and the scribes of
the assembly there. We will not descend into any particulars; for that
were to take up more of your precious time than now you can spare;
and it were needlessly to anticipate by discourse these things which
presently, in particular and length, must be read unto you. Only it is
our earnest desire, that the mercies whereof we are speaking, may be
matter of thankfulness to all, a door of hope to fainting and feeble
minds, who are oft miscarried with fear what yet may be the event; a
certain ground of clear despair to all the enemies of Zion; that they
may give over their vain labour, and cease to oppose the work of God,
whether by their secret obstructions, or open hostility; knowing that
it will be hard for them to kick against the pricks, and that there is
neither wisdom nor strength against the Lord. Since the beginning of
this work to this present moment, an observing and faithful eye may
clearly remark the Lord still advancing like the morning sun, ever
advancing towards the meridian; it is great folly to fear, that any
man, that all the worms of the earth, can stop the progress of the sun
in the firmament. Clouds may arise from the earth, and thick mists may
darken the face of the sky; but the sun goes on in his course, and at
last by his strength will dispel these vapours, and make them fall to
the ground, not without the benefit of the earth. This will doubtless
be the end of these clouds that now fill our air. Let them yet further
break out in more stormy winds, in greater fires and claps of thunder
than ever; yet at last this must be their destiny, to the ground they
must fall, and fill the ditches and pits of God’s vengeance. Our sun
will shine, and our air will clear again. This we must believe, and,
according to our faith, we shall certainly find it. It was indeed very
needful that we should be humbled; our nation lately was advanced to
a high pitch of honour; we might have perished worse, if we had not
perished thus. We judge truly, that all our present troubles are not so
much interruptions of the work, as very fit and seasonable preparatives
to make us capable of more honour than yet we have attained; to fit us
to be instrumental in greater works and services than yet we have been
employed in. We all hope, that the chariot of the Lord will not here
stand, nor be arrested within the compass of this isle.
_To Mr William Spang. London, April 25, 1645._
On Thursday we were brought to the assembly. I spoke what you have in
the inclosed. Mr Gillespie spoke thereafter much to the same purpose.
Because of the longing desire of all to know what we brought, and to
deliver the minds of some from their fears, lest we had other things
than we at first would bring forth, all was presently read; the letters
of the English assembly, our commissioners letters, the directory from
end to end, the directory for ordination, the votes of government so
far as had passed the assembly, and some other papers. All was heard
with great applause, and contentment of all. It was one of the fairest
assemblies I had seen; the choicest of the ministry and elders of all
Scotland well conveened; almost the whole parliament, nobles, barons,
burghs, and all the considerable persons who were in town. Our message
was exceeding opportune, and welcome to all. It was a great refreshing
to them in a time of languishing and discouragement. A numerous
committee was appointed to examine all punctually, which we were
desired to attend. In five or six days we went through, and, by God’s
assistance, gave all men satisfaction in every thing. The brethren from
whom we expected most fashry were easily satisfied; all did lovingly
condescend to the alterations I had so much opposed, whereof I was
very glad: only Mr And. R. was oft exceeding impertinent with his
ostentation of antiquity, and Mr D. Calderwood was oft fashious with
his very rude and humorous opposition: yet we got them all at last
contented; and the act, which Mr Gillespie drew very well, consented
to, in the committee first, and thereafter in the assembly, with a joy
unspeakable, blessed be God.
Thereafter we gave to the committee like satisfaction anent the other
papers whereupon they were to have the assembly’s opinion, but no act
till they had passed the houses of the English parliament. When we had
thus far proceeded, I went to Glasgow, to see my family and friends,
after sixteen months’ absence; where, to my great joy, I found all
in health and welfare as I could wish; your mother also, and sundry
friends whom I saw, blessed be God. I had left with sundry in the
assembly to deal for my abode at home; but there was no remeid; both
of us were ordained with diligence to go back; so all that concerned
myself in private and publick went according to my mind. But for all
this, my wine was incontinent mixed with much wormwood from sundry
sinistrous accidents both in England and Scotland. The Independents,
with Mr Marshall’s help, were very near to have carried, by canny
conveyance of some propositions in the matter of church-censure,
a fair and legal toleration of their way; but their legerdemain
being perceived, was got crushed, to their small credit, and to the
break-neck of that accommodation betwixt us and them, which was far
advanced, but now, by their schismatick practices, is made desperate. *
* *
We have great toil here in the church-business. We are on the point of
setting up presbyteries and synods in London; but all the ports of hell
are opened upon us. * * *
_A Publick Letter. London, April 25, 1645._
Affairs here stand thus, so far as I understand. The assembly hath
now, I may say, ended the whole body of the church-government, and
that according to the doctrine and practice of the church of Scotland,
in every thing material. We have been these two or three weeks on
additional propositions, which seemed to be wanting for the making of
the rest practicable and perfect; these also we have ended, except
one or two, which I trust at our next session we shall pass. There
will then remain no more for the government, but the methodizing and
wording of these matters, that they may be transmitted to the houses
of parliament for their authority. The catechism, and Confession of
Faith, are put in the hands of several committees, and some reports
are made to the assembly concerning both. We expect not so much debate
upon these, as we have had in the directory and government. The
Independents, these six weeks, have not much troubled the assembly;
for after we had been a long time troubled with their opposition
to all things, it was found meet to put them to declare their mind
positively what they would be at. This they have shifted to this day,
as it was thought not fully agreeing among themselves; but now being
put peremptorily to it, they could not get it declined. Since, they
have been about that task, and we expect daily when they shall present
to us their platform of church-government. The assembly purposes not
to take it into publick debate, but to give it to some committee that
they may frame an answer to it, if so it be found convenient. The
Houses have past of our votes of government, purposing quickly to erect
the ecclesiastical courts, of sessions, presbyteries, and synods, and
thereafter to pass so much of our government as they think necessary.
We will have much to do with them to make sundry of our votes pass;
for most of their lawyers are strong Erastians, and would have all
the church-government depend absolutely on the parliament; for this
end they have past a vote in the House of Commons, for appeals from
sessions to presbyteries, from these to synods, from these to national
assemblies, and from these to the parliament. We mind to be silent
for some time on this, lest we mar the erection of the ecclesiastick
courts; but when we find it seasonable, we mind to make much ado before
it go so. We are hopeful to make them declare, they mean no other
thing, by their appeals from the national assembly to a parliament,
than a complaint of an injurious proceeding; which we never denied.
_For Mr Robert Ramsay. May 4, 1645._