A TRVE RELATION OF A SCOTCHMAN, VVho comming into the Church of St. Olaves in the Old Iury in London, at such time as the people were receiving the Communion, did much disturb them, and by force tore the Service-book in pecces, on Sunday Septemb. 5. 1641.
WITH An admonition to all such abortives amongst us, to perswade them to waite the time of the Lords Reformation by the Parliament, and not to be so disorderly.
London printed by Thomas Harper. 1641. With licence.
A true relation of the insolence of a Scotchman offered in the Church of Saint Olaves, in old Iury, London, the fifth of September 1641.
O Yee furious Zoilists, doe yee imagine that your zeale is good, or that your deeds are lawfull, that in these happy dayes of reformation, will dare of your owne accord to reforme as you list, as if you would prevent the high and honourable Court of Parliament? Will you bee the Iudge before they have censured? Nay, will you be the executioner before they have judged? Will you be so rash before they have determined? You run too fast, that makes you stumble, you fall ere you be aware, and take heed lest you bruise you sore unexpected. Had wee no hope of [Page] reformation in things amisse, it were the more to be excused: but seeing reformation is even now in acting by those glorious starres assembled for that very purpose, you are much to be blamed to goe about it any other way. Bee perswaded therefore, all you who presume to be thus unruly, and trouble not the way that is in working: Is not Gods time better then yours? And is not a Parliament way beyond and before your ignorant zeale? Are you grieved? So are we. Would you be relieved? So would we. But you are not in a way to be relieved, if you will run your owne way. Petition to that honourable Assembly, they will judge your cause, whose whole study is to make our Churches glorious: therefore stay your hands, and be not so unruly.
The Relation of the Scotchman.
1. This Scotchman came into the Church in the Old Iury, whilest the people were receiving the Sacrament: here was a great offence, [Page] to trouble them at such a time, when they were about so great a worke. Is it a small matter to disturb the people at the Sacrament? at such a time the greatest charge concerning the preparation and the celebration whereof, is to receive it with peace? And doe but consider what a great unkindnesse this was to disturb them, and to make an uprore amongst them at such a time? This was as great indignity as could be offered.
2. It was on the Sabbath day, the Sermon being newly ended, which was a time in which it was fitter for him to have hasted home, that having refreshed himselfe with the creatures of God, and dined, hee might have pondered of what he had heard preached, and considered of what hee had been taught concerning his salvation looking to his own particular charge and calling, preparing himself for the partaking of the ordinances and worship of God in the after-noon, that so he might have sanctified the Sabbath to the Lord, and not have runne into such strange and disorderly stratagems.
[Page]3. He was a Scotchman, an alien, wherein appeares his great saucinesse, to be so bold, so audaciously to trouble any of our Churches, himselfe being a stranger, to take upon him to regulate the affaires in our Churches, who neither was a Magistrate, nor a Divine; no, nor an English man, one of our owne nation, but a Scotchman and a Laick that was of Scotland, how great is this boldnesse in him to teare and spoile any thing in the Church as hee did, having no right to any such calling, especially in these times in which peace is so happily newly established between us and them, and a day of thankesgiving for that purpose celebrated to the Lord.
4. Hee went unto the Deske, where the Church bookes lay, and tooke up the Service booke in his hands; which the Clarke seeing, endeavoured to take it from him, which before he could doe, the Scotchman tore out a great part of the leaves out of the booke: he made marshall law with it, in which did appeare a great deale of indignity to both the Minister, [Page] people, yea, and to the Booke it selfe: he offered injustice to the very booke, Iustice should have permitted it to have had a triall, he might have stayed untill the Parliament had regulated the matter, there both he and it should have had a faire triall, and just proceedings, and no injustice offered to either part. But herein appeares his unrighteous dealing to play the executioner, before a proceeding in any faire triall.
5. As he would have escaped forth of the Church, he was stayed, and after evening prayer was brought before the Lord Maior. Had he done well, hee needed not to feare: Now is the glorious hopes of our reformation, and had hee had a just Commission granted for what he had done, from them in whose hands the power is to reforme, hee needed not feare; but he feared because he did evill, and is like to know that the Magistrate beareth not the sword in vaine.
6. Being examined by the Lord Maior, why he did so, he answered, that it troubled his [Page] conscience. But see his folly herein, why should it trouble his conscience, he being neither compelled to use it, nor to partake with those that did use it.
7 The Lord Maior hath bound him over to answer it at the next Sessions: to whom I leave him to a triall, and advise him to humble himselfe, and to repent for it, and to disswade others from the like attempt.