Part 46 (2/2)
ALEXANDER s.h.i.+ELDS, _Esq._
[247] See this Act V. Sess. 9. a.s.s. 1999. wherein the lesser paper is inserted.
[248] Pat. Walker says, That Mr. s.h.i.+elds much lamented his silence before the a.s.sembly, and of his coming so far short of his former resolutions, and if ever he saw such an occasion, he would not be so slack. Messrs. Lining and Boyd had too much influence upon him, being in haste for stipends and wives. Rem. of the lives of Messrs. Semple, &c.
first edit, page 78.
[249] See a more full account of Mr. s.h.i.+elds both while in Caledonia and Jamaica, in the history of Darien, lately republished, from page 42 to 49.
[250] This family that pursued him is long ago extinct, and their house (as Mr. d.i.c.kson very publicly foretold in the hearing of many), after it had been an habitation for owls, the foundation stones were digged up.
The inhabitants there could not but observe, that those who were informers, accusers and witnesses against Mr d.i.c.kson (some of them magistrates then in the town) were brought so low, that they were sustained by the charity of the parish. So hard a thing it is to meddle with the servants of Jesus Christ.
WOD. HISTORY.
[251] It was no doubt such faithful freedom that made that defamatory scribbler say, in his Presbyterian Eloquence, that he said in a sermon at Galas.h.i.+elds, that cess paying to Charles II. was as bad as sacrificing to devils, see page 15.
[252] Mr. d.i.c.kson being one who maintained and defended the lawfulness of defensive arms, either about this time or at the restoration before he was ejected, he kept the sacrament of the Lord's supper (probably at Rutherglen), while the people kept guard by centries under arms the whole time of the dispensation thereof. Which truly sets forth the danger and hazard of these times, and the aggravations of our sins in misimproving these mercies and privileged which they could not peaceably enjoy.
[253] If these were Mr. d.i.c.kson's sentiments then of the revolution settlement, so much now gloried in and boasted of by many, they must be either ignorantly blind or under an infatuation, who see not that things are a great deal worse (though the same as to the const.i.tution) than in his day. For how many are the clogs and impositions, that are annually (I may say daily) wreathed about the neck of the church, in these degenerate isles of sea, Britain and Ireland. And could any thing be believed by an apostate generation, we should think that his words should be of some weight, who was no opponent, but a member of the established church, yea and more, a seer in our Israel, and, we may say, one among a thousand, _for as the man is, so is his strength_, &c.
[254] Calderwood's history, page 776.
[255] Wilson's impartial relation of Bothwel bridge, where the reader will find a full account of the most material transactions done there at that time.
[256] In the hands of some friends, are yet to be seen two of these commissions in Latin, wrote on parchment, one of which is a very beautiful copy on copper-plate.
[257] See a more full account of his negotiations in the Netherlands for the suffering remnant, in a large letter of his now published in Faithful Contendings, page 186,----{illegible}.
[258] Memorandum of occurrences in ma.n.u.script, page 1st and 2d.
[259] See the above-mentioned declarations, protestations and declinatures with some of his many religious letters, lately published in a pamphlet int.i.tled, the Christian Conduct, &c.
[260] And even some others (Walker and others) who have pretended a great regard for the principles and memory of some of our late sufferers, such as Mess. Cameron, Cargil and Renwick. But in this they are not aware whom they have obliged: for it is pretty notour, That this gentleman and these worthies, particularly the last, were the very same in principle to their lives end, as their own letters and testimonies do evidence; and so in condemning him, they have not only tacitly condemned them, but most avowedly relinquished the substantial part of the covenanted testimony of the church of Scotland in her purest times; and what can the arch-bishop of Canterbury require more, never once to mention an anti-covenanter, a nullifidian, or lukewarm presbyterian.
[261] This life is substracted from his life at large in the first edition.
[262] See his life at large wrote by himself, Scots Worthies page 486.
[263] The most judicious historians that I have seen upon this subject, grant that Charles 2d was poisoned by the direction of the Papists, but B. Burnet in his History, and Dr. Welwood in his memoirs say, the king had no suspicions he was poisoned. Burnet insinuates that his harlot the d.u.c.h.ess of Portsmouth and her confessor were the instruments, and that the king died in good terms with his brother. Dr. Welwood who gives both sides, relates this story: Some time the king, having drunk more liberally than usual, retired to the next room in the castle of Windsor, wrapt himself in his cloak, and fell asleep on a couch. He was but a little time returned to the company, when a servant belonging to one of them, lay down on the same couch, and was found stabbed dead with a poinard, nor was it ever known who did it: the matter was hushed up, and no inquiry made. Mem. page 88. But as to the circ.u.mstances of his death, no doubt, Mr Vetch had the advantage to know as well as many others, being often at London, and acquainted with some who frequented the court.
[264] _Viz._ Mr. Hepburn.
[265] This letter was read Aug. 17. 1643, in the Scots general a.s.sembly, as it stands in the collection of the acts thereof from 1638, to 1649.
page 205.
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