took instruments in these words: "Here, in the name of the brethren of the ministry professing the religion as it hath been practised in our church since the reformation of the same, I protest against all these things that have been concluded in prejudice of our privileges since the first reformation thereof, and adhere to my former protestation made and fixed on the Tolbooth door, and other places, and to all the protestations made in favour of the church in the time of the preceding parliaments." And God from heaven did declare his dissent, for during the time of the reading of these acts, there was nothing but thunder, fire, lightnings, and rain. And thereafter the Lord made the whole country feel the weight of his anger; for the corn did rot through excessive rains; waters became so great that they swept away, in several places, corn, cattle, houses, plenishing, people and all; the great bridge of Perth, where these acts were first concluded, was taken away, and never repaired to this day, yea, and the whole town almost drowned: many of the seatowns which favoured the articles received great damage by sea; and there followed three years' dearth and famine, and epidemic diseases, whereof many died. Thus did the Lord plead from heaven his controversy, and testify his displeasure against those courses.

But notwithstanding of all this, the prelates, having now all power in their hands, prosecute their work, and tyrannise over all ranks, so as the inhabitants were more afraid of crossing their commands than the commands of the king himself; for they banished out of their bounds such gentlemen as they pleased, imprisoned what magistrates they thought fit, upon any light occasion, were it but the hearing of their own old minister, after he had been silenced by the bishop, or the not sisting of one, though their own father, before their tyrannical

court.

Now is there a black cloud over the church for many years; piety is daily decaying,formality and profanity increasing; the godly are mourning and lamenting, and the wicked rejoicing. But the prelates have not yet ended their purpose.

For, anno 1633, when King Charles was present at a parliament, there is an act carried through (but not without some opposi tion made thereunto by some of the nobles), granting power to his Majesty to command

what habits he pleaseth for all men in office, whether in church or state, and that as a privilege annexed to the crown; and by this means a door was opened to bring in the surplice, the corner cap, and other trash. These worthy nobles being traduced by the prelates as contemners of authority, and sowers of sedition in church and state, procure the king's displeasure by their freedom; for the king did not only chide them openly, but with his own hand he wrote down their names as disloyal subjects, which made these nobles think of drawing up a supplication; which, being drawn up by William Haig, his Majesty's solicitor, was committed to the trust of the Earl of Rothes and Lord Loudon, to present it as they found conveniency; but they, perceiving that it would not be well accepted, resolve to keep it up. But at length, some way or other, a copy thereof cometh to the bishops' hands, and they deliver it unto the king, and withal complain of those noblemen, as standing in the way of his subjects' yielding cheerful obedience. And upon their importunate requests, there is a commission granted to certain persons, as a committee, to proceed against the authors and abettors of that supplication, as guilty of sedition and treason. Whereupon William Haig fleeth, and all his goods are confiscated. Some noblemen are questioned; and the Lord Balmerino, who had the supplication in his custody, is imprisoned, and at length condemned to die, but obtaineth pardon.

Now the prelates do reign, their being none who durst peep or move a wing against them. The archprelate of St Andrews was chancellor; other eight of the prelates were in great places, being either lords of the privy council, or lords of the exchequer; and being thus lifted up in power and honour, they are puffed up with pride, and what durst they not attempt now (think they)? Therefore they proceed to do more wickedness, and draw up a book of canons, which was printed, and approven by the king's Majesty, and all were commanded to obey the bishops in all points. By this book, that which remained of presbyterian government is taken away; parochial sessions and classical presbyteries are accounted conventicles; ruling elders and deacons are cast out of the church, and all ecclesiastical causes are brought only to the prelates' tribunal. So were they about the drawing up of a liturgy, and a book of or

dination, against which, before ever they were printed or seen, all were discharged to speak under the pain of excommunication. And at length the book of common prayer is published and imposed on the church by the king's command, as the only form of public divine worship. Every parish is commanded to have two at least of these books, under the pain of horning and being punished as rebels: and a strict command cometh forth, enjoining the same to be used from Pasche and forward, anno 1637. But some of the prelates, as of Ross and Dunblane, did anticipate the day, and made use of it in their cathedrals. Others of the prelates propone the matter to their synods: but the ministers replied, that such a change should not be made without a national assembly; but it was answered that they were the representatives of the church. However, some prelates gave ministers liberty to advise until October, but through the furious importunity of some a letter is procured from his Majesty, commanding the using of the liturgy with all expedition in the churches of Edinburgh. The ministers being called to see what they would do, such as refused are presently suspended.

SECTION II.

THE WAY HOW THE LORD BROUGHT DOWN THESE PRELATES, AND THE HISTORY CONTINUED.

IT was sad and lamentable to see what a face the church of Scotland had now: no hedge of discipline to keep the vineyard from foxes and wild boars; all the discipline which was, was tyranny over consciences, and over men's persons and estates; profanity was not curbed, but encouraged, prelates themselves being chief in all those crying abominations, as will be cleared ere long; yea, that poor church was now posting fast to Rome." The prelates and their underlings, beside the points of Arminianism (which were accounted special pieces of their qualification) did avow openly several points of Popery, so that it was taught publicly in the chief city, that "the Pope was not antichrist." And thus all things were growing worse: the worship corrupted, and like to be corrupted more; and the minds of people were filled with

fears that God would depart and leave that church altogether; so that their case looked most deplorable and desperate like. But as oftentimes the church and people of God have found Him, who was the hope of Israel, and the Saviour thereof in times of trouble, a ready help in time of need,-so did the poor church of Scotland find it now by experience, that when the storm was sorest it was nearest an end, and that this was as the dark hour before the dawning of the day; for now the Lord awaketh, as one after wine, and looketh through the cloud with compassion on a long tossed and sorely afflicted church, which had groaned under the oppression of cruel taskmasters till they could do no more, and showeth that his hand was not shortened that it could not save, but that he was the hearer of prayer, and that now his appointed time was come to take vengeance on his adversaries, even the vengeance of his temple. And as, ordinarily, the Lord's great works appear to carnal reason to be despicable at the beginning, so the Lord began this great change and alteration of affairs in that poor church in a way that seemed not to promise much, yet such a way it was as the hand of God was to be seen in it, and seen carrying of it on wonderfully, as shall appear.

:

In obedience to his Majesty's last letter, which commanded the reading of the liturgy in all haste, the Bishop of Edinburgh, the first Sabbath-day thereafter, resolved to do it; and when he beginneth, there ariseth a tumult among the people, begun by some women, which increased so as that the prelate, when he came out of the church, did hardly escape and in the rest of the churches of Edinburgh the reading was stopped. Immediately after dinner the secret council did meet, and resolve to search out the authors of this tumult, and commanded the use of the service book, and all to speak reverently of the bishops; but notwithstanding of this the people rage more than ever against the prelates, and after the afternoon sermon they set upon the prelate with stones, and forced him to flee.

About this time, in other parts of the kingdom, the ministers and honest people who were urged, and could not give obedience, resolved to follow a more regular way, and to supplicate the council, and to give in a note of the errors contained in these books, which accordingly they did; so, from several parts of the kingdom, there

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came ministers and professors with supplications, showing how erroneous both the liturgy and the other books were, and how dangerous a thing it was to bring in innovations in a church, - how the reformed churches of Austria were undone by the violent obtrusion of a liturgy;-how, in the time of Charles the Great, the church was miserably rent, some adhering to the Ambrosian liturgy, others choosing the Roman or Georgian liturgy;-how dangerous it was to change the worship and bring in a worse; and how the king, four years before, at his coronation, did solemnly swear that he would alter nothing in the kingdom of Scotland without the free consent and advice of those having interest. Unto these supplications the council at first gave a favourable answer, and told that it was not their mind to press the public use of these books, and that they had forbidden the bishops to press the use of these books any more, and that they had signified their mind to his Majesty, and were expecting a return. The petitioners likewise sent their supplications to his Majesty with the Duke of Lennox, who was then returning to London, and withal did wrestle with God by prayer and fasting, that he would incline the king's heart to hearken unto their just desires, and would frustrate the endeavours of their adversaries. But when the express cometh from his Majesty, all the answer they get is an edict, published October 18, commanding them to go out of the town of Edinburgh, within a few hours, under the pain of rebellion. When the titioners see this, the next day they resolve to act all together jointly, that his Majesty might know it was not a few puritans (as the impure prelates were pleased to nickname them), but a great multitude of his Majesty's most loyal subjects of all ranks who were dissatisfied. And they draw up a complaint against the prelates, and desire liberty of the council to pursue them legally, as being the only authors of the book of canons and liturgy, which contain the seeds of superstition and idolatry, and as being guilty of many other crimes, and that under the highest peril; and withal they show the council that they could not leave the town until they saw some course taken for delivering the land from the present and imminent dangers. When the council saw that the number of the petitioners was great and daily increasing, fearing the worst, they de

pe

sired the petitioners would choose some of their number as their commissioners to prosecute their business, that the multitude might depart; and this was yielded unto. But ere long the council is discharged, by an express from his Majesty, to meddle any more in that matter; whereupon the supplicants are necessitated to draw up a protestation, declaring, that if any tumult arose, through their prosecution of the cause, the council only might be blamed, as refusing justice. When the council heareth of this, they resolve to hear the desire of the commissioners, and advise the bishops to withdraw themselves. When the commissioners compear, they show their intention was to prosecute their business against the prelates, whom they would prove guilty of grievous crimes, under the highest peril, and therefore desired the prelates might be excluded, it not being fit that parties should be judges. The council, because of the forementioned express, might do nothing; only they write to his Majesty, who thereafter sendeth for the Earl of Traquair, but he, for fear of the prelates, did misrepresent the cause of the supplicants, and returned with a proclamation from his Majesty, which he caused to be published at Stirling (where the council was sitting), in February 1638, in which proclamation the king owned the books which the petitioners did supplicate against, and condemned the meetings of the supplicants as conspiracies contrary to the laws of the land. Against this the petitioners prepared a protestation, a copy whereof was affixed at the cross of Stirling, and herein protested against these books, as full of errors, as innovations; against their refusing to receive libels against the prelates; against the High Commission court, obtruded on Scotland contrary to the fundamental laws of the land, without any municipal law; that prelates should not be judges in their own cause, and that all their own meetings were lawful; and that they could not forbear, with a good conscience, unless they should wrong the glory of God, the honour of his Majesty, and the liberties of kirk and kingdom. And because they were commanded to depart forth of the town of Stirling, they go together towards Edinburgh, and there, after serious thoughts, they find the main procuring cause of all these calamities to be the violation of the national covenant; and therefore unanimously they resolve to renew that covenant;

and accordingly they draw it up, with some explicatory additions and confirmations out of the acts of parliament, and bind themselves" to adhere unto and defend the true religion; and (forbearing the practice of all novations already introduced in the matters of the worship of God, or approbation of the corruptions of the public government of the kirk, or civil places and power of kirkmen, till they be tried and allowed in free assemblies and in parliament) to labour, by all means lawful, to recover the purity and liberty of the gospel, as it was established and professed before the foresaid innovations," and promise and swear to "continue in the profession and obedience of the foresaid religion, to resist all contrary errors and corruptions, and that they had no intention to attempt anything that might turn to the dishonour of God, or to the diminution of the king's greatness and authority, and to defend themselves mutually in the same cause," &c. When the covenant is thus drawn up, it was subscribed by all present, and copies thereof were sent to such as were absent, and being read in the churches, was heartily embraced and sworn, and subscribed with tears and great joy. Great was this day of the Lord's power, for much willingness and cheerfulness was among the people, so as, in a short time, few in all the land did refuse, except some Papists, some aspiring courtiers, who had no will to displease the king; some who were addicted unto the English rites and ceremonies, and some few ministers who had sworn the oath at their entry, which was mentioned anno 1612. Yea, such willingness was among the nobles and others, that they had their own copies of the covenant subscribed by others of the nobles, barons, and ministry, laid up in their charter-chests, where possibly many of them are at this day.

When matters are at this pass, the prelates do animate his Majesty to a war; and the covenanters, desiring his Majesty might be rightly informed, wrote unto the Duke of Lennox, Marquis of Hamilton, and the Earl of Morton, to know if his Majesty would accept of a supplication, and sent one unto them to be presented by them; but the king would not look upon it. At length he is moved to send the Marquis of Hamilton down toward Scotland to labour by all means to settle peace. But, in the meantime, there is a ship sent from London with amunition unto the castle of Edinburgh,

which, because not usual, was taken notice of; and the covenanters, fearing the worst, resolved to watch the castle, that none of it should be taken in. When Hamilton cometh down, the covenanters petition for a free General Assembly, and a lawful parliament. He replieth, that he was not able to grant either, unless they would render back their subscribed covenant; but this they could not do without open perjury, so that he resolveth to return. But first, July 4, he published a declaration, against which, contrary to their resolution (for they were made to believe it was some other thing than indeed it was), they drew up a protestation; and hearing that the council had approved of the said proclamation, they prepare a supplication; but the council did not suffer the act to be recorded, but did tear it in pieces; and thereafter, Hamilton and the most part of the council declared solemnly that the act of the council was no approbation of the same, but a warrant to the clerk to cause publish it.

When the Marquis of Hamilton was going back to London again, he promiseth to procure a warrant from his Majesty for a General Assembly before the 22d of September, otherwise they should have free liberty to appoint one themselves; and when, according to his promise, he returneth again, he bringeth a proclamation with him, tacitly condemning all the proceedings of the covenanters, and marring the freedom of an Assembly; and therefore the covenanters were constrained to make use of a protestation against it, September 22. On the same day also did the council publish his Majesty's indictment of an Assembly to be holden at Glasgow, November 21, and of a parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the 15th of May thereafter, 1639. As also a new engine is used for disappointing the covenanters in their explicatory addition, namely, the council, at the king's command, subscribe the national covenant and the bond for his Majesty's preservation, and appoint commissioners to see it done through the kingdom; but withal there is a clause added, namely, "We subscribe the confession of faith, of, and according to the date and tenor, anno 1580 and 1590, and as it was then professed within this kingdom." Supposing (but by a gross mistake) that, at that time, Prelacy and ceremonies were then professed; but the prelates, fearing this would not abide the trial, desired the council to