-had been a great favourite with Cromwell-had preached before him-prayed for him as chief magistrate-and had received from him several valuable gifts—all which were now brought forward as charges against him. But he had many friends in the House, and was induced to profess civil guilt and throw himself upon the king's mercy. His concessions, it is alleged, were strained beyond what he intended, and represented as of great importance at the time, as he had been eminent among his brethren; and it was supposed his example would have a mighty influence in inducing the more scrupulous to give way.. They were, however, grievous to the Presbyterians and not satisfactory to his majesty; but they procured a mitigation of his punishment, which was commuted to deprivation of his office, and confinement to Ormiston and six miles round.

On the 12th of July, the parliament rose; and, on the last day of that month, their public acts were proclaimed, with the usual formalities, from the cross of Edinburgh a ceremony that employed the heralds and other functionaries from ten o'clock in the forenoon till six at night.

About the same time, Samuel Rutherford was relieved by death.

testimony by their blood to the sincerity of their profession. It is worthy of remark, that the first class were chiefly the older, the second the younger, race of the Presbyterians.

BOOK HII.

AUGUST, A. D. 1661-1662.

Lord High Commissioner sets out for court-His reception-Deliberations of the Council-Episcopacy resolved upon as the National Religion of Scotland-Glencairn, Rothes, and Sharpe appointed to carry the tidings to Edinburgh-King's letter--Privy Council announce the overthrow of Presbytery-Forbid the election of Presbyterian Magistrates in Burghs-Prosecute TweeddaleMinisters summoned to London to be episcopally ordained-Their characters-Their consecration-Grief of the Presbyterians-Reintroduction of Episcopacy-Restrictions on the press-Witchcraft-Synods discharged and Bishops ordered to be honoured by royal patent-Their consecration-Parliament restores their rank

Asserts the King's supremacy-The Covenants declared unlawful-Acts of fines-Defeated-Lord Lorn-Blair and other ministers deprived-King's birth-day-Middleton's visit to the West and South-Case of Mr. Wylie-Brown of Wamphrey— Livingston, &c.-Middleton removed and Lauderdale appointed.

LEAVING the government in the hands of the privy council,* Middleton, after parliament adjourned, set out for court, where he was received by the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Chancellor, the Duke of Ormond, and all the cavalier party, with the greatest congratulations for having quenched the fanatic zeal of Scotland, and carried his majesty's prerogative beyond what any preceding monarch when present, had ever claimed,

At a council held upon his arrival, Charles, who utterly detested Presbytery, expressed himself highly

* The chief members of which were-The Earl of Glencairn, chancellor; Crawford, treasurer; Rothes, president; Lauderdale, secretary. Members - Dukes of Lennox and Hamilton; Marquis of Montrose; Earls of Errol, Marischal, Mar, Atholl, Morton, Cassils, Linlithgow, Perth, Dunfermline, Wigton, Callender, Dundee, &c. &c.-Wodrow, p. 87.

gratified at the report of what he had done; but his counsellors were divided. Lauderdale and some others, who knew perfectly that the established religion was deeply rooted in the affections of Scottishmen, where unwilling to hazard a change; and even some who wished an Episcopacy were yet averse to its being too rashly introduced.* Middleton, how

ever, who had been previously tutored, immediately addressed the king-" May it please your sacred majesty: You may perceive by the account I have now given of your affairs in Scotland, that there is no present government as yet established in that church. Presbytery is, after a long usurpation, now at last rescinded the covenant, whereby men thought they were obliged to it, is now declared to have been unlawful-and the acts of parliament, whereby it was fenced, are now removed; so that it is arbitrary to your majesty to choose what government you will fix there; for to your majesty this is by the last act of supremacy declared to belong. But if your majesty do not interpose, then Episcopacy, which was unjustly invaded at once with your royal power, will return to its former vigour."

Glencairn followed, and affirmed that the insolence of the Presbyterian ministers had so disgusted all loyal subjects, that six for one longed for the Episcopalian government, which had ever inculcated obedience and supported the royal interest; whereas, Calvinism and Presbytery had never been introduced

* When the lords went first up to welcome the king, the question was debated what form of Government should be established in the Scottish Church. "Middleton and Clencairn were resolute for bishops, pronouncing they would both compose the church and manadge it to the king's mind; Lauderdale opposed it stiffely, affirming the king should thereby lose the affectiones of the people of Scotland, and that the bishops should be so far from enlargeing the king's power, that they would prove a burdine too heavy for him to bear; and therein he proved als true a prophet, as he was a faithful friend to the king. Within some few days, Glencairn came to visit Lauderdale, and told him he was only for a sober sort of bishops, such as they were in the primitive times, not lordly prelats. Lauder- dale answered him with ane oath, that since they hade chosen bishops, they should have them higher than any that ever were in Scotland, and that he should find.”—Kirkton, p. 134.

into any country without blood and rebellion, and instanced, with the most preposterous absurdity, the struggles for freedom at the Reformation-in France, during the civil war-in Holland, when they revolted from Spain-and now twice in Scotland; once by the Regent Murray, when Queen Mary was banished, and lastly in 1637. Rothes added although he had not seen the rise of the innovations, yet he had witnessed the ruin of the engagement and the treatment of the king by that persuasion. Lauderdale contended that the proposition was of too great importance to be slightly determined, and required much thought and much information; for, upon their resolution, depended the quiet of the Scots-a people very unmanageable in matters of religion and advised that either a General Assembly should be called, the provincial Synods consulted, which, as composed of ministers and laymen, would acquaint his majesty with the inclinations of his subjects-or, he might call the ablest divines on both sides, and learn their sentiments, if either of the other proposals were approved of.. Middleton replied that all these methods would only tend to continue Presbytery; for it was probable the power of the ministers which had been so irresistible of late, would preponderate in all. They would easily procure ruling elders of their own cast to be chosen, and both would be unwilling to resign the power they possessed; at all events, the leading men whom the inferior clergy must follow, durst not quarrel the resolutions of their rabbies, who would adhere to the oaths they had taken, and stoutly defend their own supremacy; besides to call General Assemblies or Synods, were to restore them, and thus to infringe the act rescissory.

The Earl of Crawford, whose treasurer's rod was a desirable object for Middleton, had declined mingling in the debate, which the Chancellor of England observing, requested his majesty that he might be desired to give his opinion, in order that he might either disclaim Presbytery or displease the king, and thus put his principles or his place in jeopardy; for it

appeared to be a settled rule among the courtiers of Charles, that whatever Scottishmen were allowed to interfere in the public affairs of their native country, should sacrifice either their conscience or their interest.

Crawford perceived the Chancellor's aim, and vehemently urged that provincial synods might be consulted, assuring his majesty, the king, that six for one in Scotland were in favour of Presbytery. "The offences of the reformers," he warmly contended, "were not to be charged upon the Reformation: the best innovations were ever attended with much irregularity, and therefore it was better to continue that government which had now past all these hazards— at first unavoidable-than risk another, which, at its outset, must be unhappy in the same inconveniences. Nor did the act rescissory cut off Presbytery, for it was secured by acts of General Assemblies, which had been countenanced by his majesty's father's commissioners, and were yet unrepealed."

The Duke of Hamilton supported him, and affirmed that the reason why the act rescissory had so easily passed, was, because his majesty had promised to continue Presbytery in his letter addressed to the ministers of Edinburgh. Clarendon closed the debate, by observing that Crawford had owned all that ever was done in Scotland in their rebellion; "and God preserve me," said he, "from living in a country where religion is independent of the state, and clergy may subsist by their own acts; for there all churchmen may be kings." The king then told them that hé perceived a majority were for Episcopacy, and therefore he resolved to settle it without any further delay.

Immediately after, Glencairn and Rothes were despatched to Edinburgh, accompanied by Mr. Sharpe, to convey-his majesty's determination to the council. Were it not that, in humble life, we see men equally base and shameless where their own self-interest is concerned, we might wonder at the unblushing effrontery of the royal communication; yet the pitiful