The altar of Damascus or the patern of the English hierarchie, and Church policie obtruded upon the Church of Scotland

CHAP. 8. Of the administration of Lay-men. (Book 8)

THE laymen having some administrati∣on, have it either in a cathedral or colle∣giat church, or else in a parish church, &c. In the cathedral church, laymen having admi∣nistration,

are the receivers of the rents, Bailiffs, takers up of accounts, overseers and measurers of land, stewards of courts, and liberties, over∣seers of the fabrick of the temple, of the sa••ctu∣arie, of the bibliotheke where the book of Ho∣milies, and service-book lye, vergerers, bellmen, singing men and boyes. Many idle and charge∣able officers are fed in these dennes to uphold the pompe of a cathedrall church, and that to the great detriment of other churches. In the Parish church they have not a Senat of Elders to joyne with the Pastor for governing the same, but two or three Churchwardens to see the Kirke be watertight, and furnished with all the ornaments and utensils, to provide for the booke of common prayer, and Homilies, and the elements for the communion upon the ex∣penses of the parish, to keep a Register of the christnings, weddings, & burialls, together with the Priest, to intimate any contribution which is to be made for some publick work: and last∣ly, to be the Bishop and Archdeacons spie, to delate or present offenders, howbeit for the most part they bee perjured, and offences are winked at, and suffered to passe without corre∣ction. No wonder, seeing the discipline is ta∣ken out of ••he hands of the right officers, and put in the hands of Officials, Commissaries, and Chancellors, to whom these perjured Church∣wardens are made officers and servants.

The possessions are either publicke, or private, &c.

Heere are reckoned for the possessions be∣longing to the Church, bookes, vestiments, the ornamentsand implements of the Kirk, the

Kirk it selfe, houses, mannours, woods, forrests, parkes, ponds, fountaines, rivers, medowes, pasturage ground, arable ground, Baron courts Hundreds, and Lathis, Tithes, ob∣lations, obuentions, pensions for indemnit••e, procurations, Synodals, fees, immunities, liber∣ties, priviledges, &c. It were ••edious to insist upon the use of every one of them in particu∣lar. They are either superfluous and excessive, or unlawfull, or bestowed upon the wrong person.

The constitutions anent both persons, and possessions, &c.

There is a controversie among the Lawiers, what Canons and Constitutions of the Canon Law be in force among them. Some of best judgement thinke it to be altogether abrogate, except so much as is particularly ratified by Statute. They themselves doe hold,* 1.1 that all the former canons of the canon law, all the con∣stitutions, and decrees, nationall or provinciall, which were in use before in the Ecclesiasticall Courts, which are not repugnant to the Sta∣tutes, and municipall lawes of the Realme, or to the late constitutions established by publiqu authoritie, nor prejudiciall to the Kings pre∣rogatiue and privileges, make up the Ecclesisti∣call lawes of England, and accordingly put the same in practise. There Canon law, the popes Testament then, is there principall Law booke.

THinke not, good Reader, that I have made a perfect Discoverie of the English Church-policie: for that requireth the skill and paines, of the most judicious and pain∣full among themselves. Therefore take in good

part, that little which I have in great hast ga∣thered for thy information, and consider how dangerous it is to yeeld to a few of their Popish corruptions. Some few will draw on the rest, and the whole will make way for full Poperie to re-enter, in the owne time, which approa∣cheth very neere in outward appearance, un∣lesse the Lord prevent. Hee that persevereth to the end, shall get the Crown.

BIshop Spotswood hath spread a rumeur, that M David Calderwood is turned Brounist, but I assure thee, good Reader, it is not true. That old impudent ••yar, hath together with his supposed Authour, a yong man, trimmed up a tale with ma∣ny circumstances, to make the mis-report the more credible. But if ever he required by letter, the judge∣ment, either of that supposed Authour, or of any other man else, anent their opinions, then let him ne∣ver be reputed for an honest man hereafter. If hee had dou••ted, he would not have sought resolution from yong schollers, and unsetled braines. The ground being false, all the rest of the circumston∣ces builded upon it are knovish forgeries also. If either Spotswood, or his supposed Authour, persist 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their caluninie after this declaration, I shall try if there be any bloud in their foreheads.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mucket p. 299.