Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Jul. 20.—The Generall Assemblie satt downe att Edenbroughe, the which day Mr Robert Douglas and Mr David Dicke, both ministers of Edenbroughe, did preach. After the sermons ended, they mett in the ordinary place of meitting, and after Mr David Dick, moderator for the time, had prayed, he began to call the rolle; in the meane time, ther comes in two Louetennant Collonells of the English forces, and desyred them to be silent, for they had some thing to spake to them: So one of the Louetennant-Collonells began to aske them by what authoritie they mett?—if by authoritie of the late parliament, or by authoritie of the commander of the forces in chiefe, or if by the authoritie of ther late king? The moderator desyred that those that were not members of that Assemblie might remove, that so they might give a modest answer to these gentlemen. He desyred further, that all the names of the members of that Assemblie might be given him. The moderator replied that they could not give them, because ther names were not called; bot if he wold have a litell patience till they called the rolle, he sould have them. He ansuered, if it were not longesome he sould doe it. So the moderator beganne at the presbetrie of Argile, to examine ther comission; hire the English officer replied that that wold prove tedious, so that he could not waite upon it, bot desyred them to remove and to be gone; and, if they wold not, he had instructions what to doe. Upon this the moderator, in name of the Assemblie, protested that they were Christs court, and that any violence or injurie done to them might not hinder any meitting of thers when convenient occasion sould offer itselfe. He desyred they might pray a word before they dissolved. The moderator beganne prayer, and after he had spoken 5 or 6 sentences, the English officer desyred them againe to be gone; notwithstanding, the moderator went on in prayer, bot was forced att lenth to breake of, so they arose and came foorth. All this time ther was a company of English footmen in the kirke, waiting upon them, and a troupe of horsemen att the Port. After the ministers were come fourth, they were gairded on both hands up the way (by the said footmen), to the Whyhouse, where they were caried alonge to the Port, and from thence to the Quarrell-holls, where they made them to stand. The English required againe for all ther names; they said they were most willing, so they told all ther names. So the moderator protested againe att the said place. After ther names were wretten, they discharged them to meite againe, under the paine of being breakers of the peace; and that they might send for ther horses and be gone presentlie; for (said they) that they knewe they had ther horses in the towne. The moderator ansuered, that most of them had come from the other side of the water, with a purpose to stay a fourtnight, and for that cause had sent backe ther horses. Upon this, the English desyred them to goe backe to Edenbroughe and lodge ther all night, and to be gone before eght a cloke in the nixt day; and discharged that not above two of them sould be seine togither, and that they sould send ther names and ther lodging place to the court of gaird that night. So upon the nixt day, they went away to ther severall homes, and did not meite any more att that deyet.

Sept. 12.—Mr George Hamiltone, Mr Collen Edem, Mr Robert Bennet, and Mr David Guthrie, all ministers of the presbetrie of St Androus, were caryed by some of the English forces of Collonell Berries regiment of horse to Edenbroughe prisoners, because the day before, being the Sabath, they had prayed for the King. They returned the 20 of Sept. upon condition either to returne to Edenbroughe within a fourtnight, and to give assurance to the judges that they sould not pray any more for the King, or else to expect sequestration.

Sept. 27.—The provinciall assemblie of Fyfe satt att St Androus, where Mr Robert Blaire, minister of St Androus, was moderator. Mr Samuell Rutherfoord presented a peaper to the moderator, relatting to the sinns of the ministrie, bot it was not accepted; upon the refusall of it some words passed betuixt Mr Samuell Rutherfoord and the said Mr Robert Blaire, anent the publicke busines. About the close of this meiting, two English officers came in to the place where they satt; the judicatory enquired if they had come in with a purpose to sitt and voice with them? they ansuered, not; bot onlie they were commanded to come in to heare and sie, and that they acted nothing in prejudice to the comon-wealth. They ansuered that they had not so mutch as once nominated the comon-wealth since they satt downe; and that they (meaning the English officers), were the first that spake of the comon-wealth and not the assemblie. They appointed a visitation for Cuper and Creiche, and some brethren to corresponde with Angus and Stratherne.

1654.

Jan. 14.—Being Saturday, ther was a preparation sermon for a thanksgiving preached att Sconie, in Fyfe, for the continuance of the gospell in the land, and for the spreading of it in some places in the Hygh-lands in Scotland, where, in some families two, and in some families one, beganne to call on God by prayer. Mr Samuel Rutherford, minister in St Androus, preached on Saterday.... Observe, that on the Saturday, Mr Samuel Rutherford had this expression in his prayer, after sermon, desyring that the Lord wald rebuke presbetries, and others, that had taken the keyes and the power in ther hands, and keiped out and wold suffer none to enter (meaning in the ministrie), bot such as said as they said.

Apr. 4.—The provinciall assemblie of Fyfe satt at St Androus, where Mr Patrick Scougall, minister of Louchars, in the presbetrie of St Androus, was moderator; they did not mutch; the meiting was adjourned for a fourtnight; they rose the 6 of Aprill.... They appointed a fast to be keiped by this shyre on the last Sabath of May, being the 28 day of the month; which was done accordinglie by many. The causes were left arbitrary for every minister in his owne congregation.

Dec. 3.—The fast (appointed by the provinciall of Fyfe, at Kirkekaldie, 1654), was intimat at Largo by Mr James Magill, minister, to be keiped the following Sabath at Largo, viz. the 10 of Dec.; the causes were not reade, onlie he named them: 1st was the contempt of the gospell and breach of covenant; 2d was the great burdens and pressors that lay upon persons in the land, both in body and spirit; 3d was the small proficiencie in knowledge under the meanes and ordinances; the 4th was ane ordinance emitted by the Lord Protector Cromvell, and delivered to Mr Patricke Gillespie, when he was att London, this instant yeare, 1654, for the benefit of universities and preachers in Scotland: this being the titell of it; which, att on dash, did overthrowe the discipline and government of the church of Scotland by sessions, presbetries, and assemblies. The forsaid Assemblie gave a testimonie against this ordenance, which was appointed to be reade in sessions, and to be insert in the severall session bookes of the shyre of Fyfe.

1655.

Apr. 3.—The provinciall assembly of Fyfe met att Kirkekaldie, wher Mr James Wood, minister of St Androus, was chosen moderator. This meiting was adjourned to the first Tuesday of July, at which time they appointed ther meiting att Cuper. Ther was no more done att this meiting, bot a moderatour chosen, and the assemblie adjourned. This was occasioned by ane order emitted by Gen. Moncke, comander in chiefe of the English forces in Scotland, discharging all publicke meitings; so that Major Davesone, with some other English officers, came in to ther meiting, and did showe them that he was comanded to hinder them from meiting, or else to scatter them when they were mett; and after some conference betwixt the said Major Davisone and Mr James Sharpe, being moderator of the preceiding assembly, they dissolved, and mett no more att that time.

General Monke, Coll. Syler, and other English comissioners for universities in Scotland, (for so they desinge themselves,) emitted ane ordinance, bearing date Mar. 26, 1655, discharging all persons whatsoever to pray, in their publicke prayers or sermons, for the King, viz. Charl. the 2, as they wold not be censured as the comissioners thought fit; and withall discharged any to pay any maner of stipend to such ministers as sould transgresse hirein.