further known, he should be confined on the north side of ELIZAthe Frith. BETH. of accommo Notwithstanding this sentence, the king was willing to The king suspend the execution, and offer gentler terms. He conde-her terms offers furscended so far, as to purpose the razing the offensive passagestion. in the council-book, and to turn the complaining passages in the proclamation upon the Papists. He likewise agreed, that no interlocutory proceedings against Blake should be made a precedent against any other minister; and that none should be questioned by the council for preaching, till it was resolved by a lawful assembly that the king might take cognizance of those preachers who had run out into heterodoxy, and exceeded their commission. On the other side, he required no more than a reasonable security for the good behaviour of the ministers; that they would not fail in their regards to the government, nor speak disrespectfully of his majesty or his council; and, that they would keep themselves thus in compass, he expected a promise under their hands. And all the punishment he asked for Blake was, either that he might be removed from St. Andrew's to another congregation, or suspended some time from his function and these, considering the nature of the crime, and the stubbornness of the offender, were very merciful corrections. sioners. However, this last condition was more than the commis- 653. sioners would digest. They pretended, that to punish a man without a legal trial, was not practicable in justice; that both the court and the proceedings against Blake were exceptionable; and that the evidence produced against him were disaffected, and under the censures of the Church. To The overture refused by silence this cavil, the king offered to name twenty unexcep- the commistionable witnesses; that Blake should choose seven or eight out of this number. That these men of his own choosing should be examined touching those passages delivered by him in the pulpit; and, which was more too, the king condescended to make them judges: and that if, upon their consciences, they could acquit him, his majesty would prosecute no further. But all this yielding turned to no account; the ministers were peremptory in their demands, and held up their claim as high as ever. The commissioners ordered WHIT GIFT, Abp. Cant. Dec. 12, 1596. The king publishes a against the ministers. two of the brethren to go to the king and acquaint him, "That since they could have no redress of injuries done to Christ's kingdom; since none but the enemies of truth were countenanced; since the faithful pastors of the Church were prosecuted and reviled, they could not forbear opposing these measures with the spiritual arms God had given them.” After this, they indicted a fast with solemn prayers for averting the judgments the mal-administration was likely to bring down upon the kingdom. And now the king found it necessary to assert his sovedeclaration reignty, and strike the misbehaviour of these men. To this purpose he published a declaration, in which his own condescensions, the unreasonableness and extraordinary freedoms of the ministers were set forth; he likewise gave his subjects an assurance of his resolution to maintain the established religion, and the liberties of the Church, in their legal extent; and, lastly, all ministers were required to give the king an assurance of their loyalty by subscribing an instrument: and that till this security was given, their livings and stipends should be sequestered. The breach made wider by some courtiers. About this time, some courtiers being secretly averse to an accommodation, informed the king that the ministers in Edinburgh had a strong guard about them: and that they would never be quiet, till some factious people who abetted them were sent out of town. The king, believing this suggestion, ordered twenty-four most suspected for their partiality to quit the town within six hours. This they knew would be strongly resented by the ministers. And to alarm them further, a forged letter was sent to bid them stand upon their guard, for Huntley had been with the king late last night, and put his majesty upon that severity to the burghers. This letter, directed to Bruce, was given to Balcanquel, who was to preach that morning: and thus these ministers, who needed no imaginary danger to raise their spirits and sharpen their satire, thought it necessary to Balcanquel's exert their zeal, and awaken the people. Thus Balcanquel scandalous run out into a long and violent invective against the court, sermon. called the proceedings of the council treacherous forms: and treated the president, the comptroller, and advocate, with most opprobrious language. Then applying himself parti BETH. cularly to the noblemen and barons, reminded them of their ELIZAancestors' zeal in reforming religion, and exhorted to the same resolution for maintaining it. And after the concluding prayer, he desired the noblemen and barons to meet the ministers in the little church, and assist them with their advice. When they were met, Bruce began with a remonstrance against the proceedings of the court, and desired them to solicit the king that the ministers might enjoy the benefit of their character, and not be disturbed in their function. This request seeming reasonable, the lords Lindesay and Forbes, with two lairds and two ministers, were pitched on to present the petition. The king insulted. The king then happened to be at the session or court of justice in Edinburgh; and here, the lords and the rest being admitted, Bruce spoke the petition, and made somewhat of a tragical representation of the dangers hanging over the Church: and, amongst other grievances, he mentioned the lady Huntley's, a professed papist, being entertained at court. The king, it is likely, not thinking such bold complaints fit to be answered, asked, "Who they were that durst meet against his proclamation?" The lord Lindesay, with some passion, replied, "that they durst do more than that, and that they would not suffer their religion to miscarry." And now, the people crowding in rudely, and filling the room, the king, without giving any answer, withdrew into the lower house, where the judges sit, and ordered the doors to be shut. Those who were sent with the petition, returning to their principals, told them there was no hopes of redress till evil counsellors were removed, and that therefore it was their way to resolve upon some further expedient. To this, the lord Lindesay answered, there was no course to be taken but one, and that was to keep together and engage for mutual defence, and give their friends notice to come and join them: "for," says he, "it shall be either theirs or ours." This advice was seconded with Mutiny in a great noise, throwing up of hands, and other signs of mutiny and misbehaviour; at last they came to a sedition in form, cried, "To arms! Bring out Haman! The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!" In short, the mob were upon Abp. Cant. WHIT the point of forcing the sessions door, and breaking in GIFT, upon the king, had they not been kept off by some of the burghers, better disposed. However, the tumult not being over, Sir Alexander Hume, provost of the town, though then sick, came into the street, and by his dexterity prevailed with the people to lay down their arms and disperse. Idem. The king quits the town, and carries of the courts of justice. To make the story as short as may be, the king, perceiving the ministers and their adherents extravagant in their demands, went off with his council to Linlithgow: and immediately after a proclamation was published at the marketcross of Edinburgh. It was to this effect: "That the king, considering the late treasonable tumult stirred up by certain factious ministers of Edinburgh, who, after behaving themselves seditiously in the pulpit, had drawn several noblemen and barons together, and sent some of their body to his majesty in the upper house of session, treated him in an unbecoming, undutiful manner, and prevailed with a great number of the burghers to put themselves in arms, with an intention to murder the king and his council: for these reasons, his majesty thought that town an improper place for the seat of justice, and therefore had ordered the lords of session, the sheriffs, and others of the civil list, to leave 654. Edinburgh, and repair to such places as should be appointed, commanding all noblemen and barons to retire to their respective houses, and not to presume to meet, either there or elsewhere, without leave from his majesty." The minis vour to reassure the faction. This lively motion of the government proved a serviceable effort, and gave the cause a turn. The people now began to cool in their ferment, and grow sensible they had gone too far. But the ministers scorned to relent; bore up with ters endea- their former resolution; did their utmost to keep the noblemen and barons together; and moved to send into the country and reinforce themselves. To this purpose an association was drawn up and signed by some few. When it was put to the common council, they made a civil excuse; and thus the instrument did little business. Notwithstanding this disappointment, the courage of the ministers was not to be baffled. Several of them at a debate moved for excommunicating the lord president of the council, and the lord advocate; but it was at last resolved to leave this cen BETH. sure to the assembly: that by being issued from thence, it ELIZAmight be executed with greater force and solemnity. In the mean time, to amuse the people, and keep them from recovering their understandings, a fast was proclaimed through the city, and sermons appointed in all churches. treasonable sermon. One Welsh, preaching in the cathedral, and taking his Welsh's text out of part of the letter to the angel of the Church of Ephesus, railed hideously upon the king. He said, "he Rev. 2. was possessed with a devil; and that one devil being put out, seven worse were entered in his room; and that the subjects might lawfully rise and take the sword out of his hand." This wretched assertion he endeavoured to make good, by the instance of "a father falling into a frenzy, Id. p. 430. who, during his distraction, might be seized by the children and servants, and bound hand and foot." "A most execrable doctrine," says archbishop Spotswood, "and directly repugnant to the holy Scriptures. And yet (as this prelate continues) the parallel was well received, and the poison swallowed by a great part of the audience." able letter sent to the The ministers having despatched a messenger to the lord Hamilton to come and join them, this nobleman at first seemed to promise compliance; but, upon recollection, he went to the court at Linlithgow, and carried a copy of the ministers' letter with him. This letter was treasonable to the last degree; for having set forth the oppression the Church lay under by the malice of some councillors, these extraordinary sentences followed :-"That the people, ani- 4 treasonmated by the word and motion of God's Spirit, had gone to arms; and that the godly barons and other gentlemen that lord Hamil were in town had convened themselves, and taken on them the patrociny of the Church and her cause. Only they lacked a head, and special noblemen to countenance the matter; and since with one consent they had made choice of his lordship, their desire was, that he should come to Edinburgh with all convenient diligence, and utter his affection to the good cause, accepting the honour which was offered unto him." This letter, written by Mr. Bruce, was signed by him and Balcanquel. This was plain soliciting for a rebellion, and an open revolt from the government; and therefore the ton. |