Series 5 > Religious Controversy in Scotland 1625-1639

HISTORIE OF CHURCH AND STATE
27
his father King James, and that he was knowne to be an Arminian and mantainer
of Arminianisme in all ther most grosse tennets thereof, then did all men who
were ambitious of preferment study Arminianisme, knowinge that to bee ane
Arminian was the first step to preferment. At once in St Androes, Edinburgh,
Aberdene, and about Glasgow, that weed began to spring amayne.22 Doctor
Wedderburne, in the New College of St Andrews, did stuffe his dictates to the
young students in divinity with these errors. This man uppon feare of our
churche’s censures fledd the countrie but was kindlie receaved by Ladd at court
and well rewarded with a fatt benefice in England for his labours. Bot to the end
that his tallent should not lye hidd, he (albeit a man verie unfitt either for preaching
or government) was sent downe to us, without such as acquainting our kirke
thereof, by Canterbury’s only favour to be bishopp of Dumblane, for this pur¬
pose, that in the Royall Chapell, whereof that bishopp wont alwayes to be deane,
he might in spyte [6] of all our presbeteries weive out the webb he had begunn
at St Androes.
So at once there was errected a societie of two royall chaplins23 who wer
thoght fittest of the whole cleargie of the kingdome to be alured with hopes of
favour from court to preach to the state the dean’s Arminian tenets, and truely
some of our ministers, who looked to be called lords,24 learned the bobb at the
name ofjesus, and some one or other uncouth phrase, savoringe of Arminianisme
or noveltie with the formest.25
In Edinburgh one Thomas Sydserfe did press to play his part, and for reward
of his boldnes had cast in his lapp in a trace the deanrie of Edinburgh, the
bishopricke of Brichen, and last of Galloway, with great hopes in a short tyme
the archbishopricke of Glasgow. In the north Doctor Forbus, the onely father of
the most of these who fell away from the doctrine of our kirke, came too good
speid in his ill labours, and for his paines was honnered with the first seate in the
new erected chayre in our principal! citie of Edinburgh. Bot he enriched it short
while and left a poore legacie, as I hearde say.26 About Glasgow and elswhere
22 Mullan,‘Arminianism’, 26-9.
23 corrected from margin.
i.e.,bishops, my lord bishop.
25 foremost?
26 William Forbes. His testament may be seen at NAS, CC8/8/57, fos. 74r.-76v. He had books
valued at 4,000 merks,and‘utenceills,silverwarke,and domiceills, with the abulzementis ofhis bodie,
including his airschipe guids, estimat to the sowme of four hunderth thrie scoir six punds 13/4’.
sowme of the inventory £ 3133/6/8
sowme of the debris awin to the deid £ 5384/14/6
sowme of the inventar with the debris £8518/1/2
sowme of the debris awin be the deid £ 333/6/8
restis of frie geir, the debtes awine £8184/14/6