Appendix: 1603

A.D. M.D.CIII.

The Laird of Beltries, directed from the King to Mr Robert Bruce about the midst of Januar, craved his letter from him, which he sent him last; for it had made stirr enough. Mr Robert gave him his letter, and his answer to it, which he purposed to have sent to him, but had not yet sent it. I need no answer, says Beltries. I will shew my mind, notwithstanding, says Mr Robert, and ye may communicat it to whom ye please.

Beltries received it, never opened it, but delivered it closed to the King, and played the courteour in that point, and in his speeches also, as Mr Robert learned after, howbeit he was his near kinsman.

At the first meeting of the Commissioners, the King urged them to depose Mr Robert, in respect that he obeyed not the act of the Assembly. They answered, they had no power to depose him. The King demanded next, if they had power to remove him from Edinburgh, and to declare the place vacant? They answered, they had power, and devised summonds to summond him to compear.

Before the summonds were executed, Cornelius Inglis and George Heriot, men well approved by Mr Robert, were directed to him be the Counsell of Edinburgh, to shew him, there was nothing, but extremity intended; and that summonds were directed already against him. Mr Robert asked, what warrant shall he have to enter to his calling, in case he goe with them, and satisfy the act. They answered, his Majestie wold grant no warrant, nor conference, nor delay of an hour. How then would ye have me to goe with yow, said Mr Robert? It is fit ye goe, say they, howsoever it be, that ye may shew yourself ready, and put the blame off yourself. Mr Robert sought counsel of God that night, and came with them the day following, that is the 19 of Januar to Edinburgh, and lodged at the West Port in John Howesons.

The day following, he directed this letter following to the Counsel with the Commissioners above named; which was delivered the day following, which was the Counsel day. The tenor whereof followes:

Right Worshipfull Fathers and Brethren, Notwithstanding, that the discharge of my calling in your City hath been accompanied with very many great difficulties in tyme past, and there appear no less, yea rather greater to ensue in tyme to come; yet certainly the constancy of your affection makes me to forget things past, and committ the issue of things to come to the living God, and to offer my travells willingly, if it could please God, in any sort, to move his Majesties heart to suffer us to stand in that liberty, wherein the Lord the Son of God has placed us, and to speak in the chair of truth as the Word and the Spirit of truth should direct us. Being left to our liberty, I might boldly promise with Gods grace, whenever the Word should give us occasion, (as oft tymes it will) that then from the authority of the Word I shall repress all sinifter constructions of his Majesties actions, and by the authority thereof beat doun all seditious and insolent humours of subjects, that wold press to usurp upon their superiours: and so from the Word as moved thereby, to speak upon these matters; quhich may have a far greater grace, nor to speak by way of injunction, or to speak as it were a conned lesson, or an a, b, c, put in ones hand. The one duty smelleth of Divine Theologie, the other of Court Theologie, and doth no good to the cause, but hurteth greatly: so when the people see these things to come freely of myself, without constraint, or yet put into my head, they will reverence them the more, and have the greater weight with them.

So to be short, brethren, if this sort of service can be agreeable to his Majesty, I am at command; if otherways, as God forbid, ye will hold me excused; for whereto should we enter to be a plague to the people, a shame to the Kirk, and a curse to our own souls.

The Lord of his mercy make us faithfull to the end, and turn all our wanderings, and sufferings to his glory, and our prepetual comfort.

Your brother in the Lord, and one of the Pastors in your City,
Mr R. BRUCE.

Immediatly after this letter was read in the Counsel, Sir Patrick Murrey cometh, directed from the King to them, with Mr Roberts last letter to Beltries in his hand, which he desired to be read, and then to give their judgment of it. After it was read, their judgment being craved, either to justifie, or condemn it, they answered, they could not be judges in that matter; for the letter was not directed to them, nor yet to his Majestie, but to a privat subject, with whom they had no medling.

The same day after noon, Mr Robert sent Cornelius Inglis and George Heriot to the King, to signifie that he was come, and was ready to reenter in his calling. At the first, the King seemed to be well content, but in the end stirred up, as appeared, be Sir Patrick Murrey, he fell out in very hard speaches against Mr Robert, and more fearfull than ever he uttered in his tyme, in the audience of the Bailies, and whole multitude that followed them; so that George Heriot and Cornelius Inglis repented, that they had brought him to the toun. In end, the King came to this point, that Mr Robert shall advertise him two or three dayes before he enter, to the end that he might appoint some of the Commissioners, or such others, as he thought meet, to hear him.

Upon Saturday in the morning, the 22 of Januar, Mr Robert being ready to leap on horseback to ryde to Smetoun, James Aikenhead bailiff, and John Robertson, directed from the King, inhibit him to goe to the pulpit, unless he advertised the King two days before. They feared, as appeared, that he would enter that Sabbath. Mr Robert promised to doe so, and withdrew himself out of the toun.

Upon Thursday the 27th of Januar, he sent a ticket to James Aikenhead bailie, willing him to signify to his Majestie, that he was ready to enter to his calling, God willing, the next Sabbath, and should doe all that lay in his power to pleasure his Majestie, in God. James Aikinhead finding Mr David Lindsey in the Kings utter hall, desired him to convoy the ticket to his Majestie, and to return him an answer. Mr David reading it, and finding these words in the end, In God, he said, this will not doe the turne; he must obey our injunctions. The bailiffe, notwithstanding, desired him to seek an answer.

Mr David, after long conference with the King, comes forth, and denyeth to the bailie, that the King had seen the letter, and commanded him to send for Mr John Hall.

Mr John Hall, after he had conferred long with the King, he reported this answer to Mr Roberts wife, that the King would not look upon the ticket, but would have it mended; and in stead of these words, In God, he would have these words to be put in, According to the act. At her desire he writeth to Mr Robert himself.

Sir, James Aikinhead bailiff gave intelligence to his Majestie, that ye were purposed to preach the next Sabbath, God willing; and I being doun in the Abbey, his Majestie gave me this answer, and ordained me to signifie the same unto yow, that is, Because your advertisement was general, and thereby he could not understand what ye were to doe in the matter, wherein he has been offended; also he would assure yow, that if ye entred into the pulpit, and did not according to the act of the Assembly, it would be matter of great irritation: Therefore be your ticket ye would certifie again, that ye are ready to preach, and to satisfie his Majestie according to the act of the Assembly; or otherwise, it will not be heard, as a sufficient offer. Sir, if ye write hereanent to me again, I shall be ready to deliver it, and shew you the event.
Your brother in Christ, Mr JOHN HALL.

After Mr Robert had received this letter, he wrote to Mr John Hall, signifying that seing he could not entir into his calling, but upon condition that notwithstanding he had gone als far in his letter as any servant of God could go, and none could promise more, except he who had his Commission from Himself; yet seing, brother, said he, ye crave a speciall answer, you must pardon me, before I answer to your speciall, to crave this speciall of you, and in respect, this also dependeth upon his Majestys gracious favour heere, I must crave the helpe of your intercessioun, to take the paines to purchasse me a warrant under his Majestie's hand, and that it may be leasome to me to enter fullie and freelie to my calling; and that the act of counsell that inhibits me, under the paine of death, to teache in his dominiouns, may be deleted, and lease the strenth of it against me, incace I so doe; and I sall give his Majestie a verie resoluteans were." Mr. Johnne, after long conference with the King, sent this letter to Mr. Robert:

Mr. J. Hall, His Other Letter, To Mr. R. Bruce.

"Sir,—After the recept of your letter, I went to his Majestie, and communicated to his Hienesse the desire of the said letter, and used suche humble meanes as I could, ather to obteane the same for you, or ellis to find out his utmost resolutioun; who, in end, delivered his determined will in this maner: Seing the ground of the act of the Assemblie proceeded from his Majestie's owne good will for furthering the kirk of Edinburgh, so be it he might be satisfied to his honour; and seing the Assemblie, as the act beareth, devised and appointed the easiest way for you to content him, he declared himself then willing, after the accomplishment of the said act by you, to declare his will anent your re-entrie to your office in Edinburgh, with advice of the commissioners therof. Heerefore his Majestie will no wise make anie compromitt in that mater, nor give word nor warrant in writt for your repositioun, till he be first satisfied on your part. Secundlie, he will not have your first preaching in Edinburgh to be compted your re-entrie to the ministrie there, but onlie a sermoun of satisfactioun to his Majestie. And, last, if yee minde so to doe, and advertise him that yee will preache the first day, according to the tenour of the act foresaid to that effect, yee sall receave a warrant; and also, if yee doe your duetie, he sall not be found to goe backe from nothing promised to the Assemblie. Sir, this is the effect that has followed of my travell, or so farre as I can see, will be obteanned at his Majestie's hand, in this erand. God direct you by his Spirit, to doe as may best serve his glorie, and the helpe of this kirk, that lyeth so long waiting your labours."
Your brother in Christ, Mr. JOHN HALL.