Series 5 > Religious Controversy in Scotland 1625-1639

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RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY IN SCOTLAND
better used as they) as the incendaries of church and states. For the suppressinge
of these men, the authoritie of the high comission, starr chamber, bishopps’courts,
and the ordinary courtes ofjustice, through the corruption of judges and other
inferior officers made verie serviceable. And that they might have no shelter
nearer nor New England, most of the faithfull ministers and religious justices
were for some pretence or other discountenanced, displaced, and it was comeinge
to that passe that who would depart from evill made himselfe a prey.
In England, cheifly this north part of it, is no powerfrill ministerie at all. At
this same tyme in Cumberland and Northumberland there is 50 parish kirkes,
and not three able men amongst them all, as our countriemen that now quarter
among them can beare wittnes. In Carleile that stronghold is no ordinary preach¬
ers, nor ever was in my tyme, but 4 prebends there Sabboth about came and
preached. As for catichiseinge, they were not much acquainted therewith, and
Mr Parker, a prophane and ignorant man, baptized and maried most of their
folkes. And anie of our Scots people that could not be maried lawfuly at home
would, for a crowne, yea for halfe a crowne, if they would make prigginge,45 be
maried, albeit they were brothers and sisters. Prophane idle men, the most vitious
for swearing and drinkinge (I speake as I saw), are persons,46 some of them of
three or foure parishes of which they never see except once or twice in the yeare.
Some never saw anie of there parishes all their lifetyme. Poore sily curates, of
whom some of them can scarcly reade the service booke, doe the cure by readinge
a homily and a part of the service booke, and have for this some foure, some five,
verie few six ponds sterlinge by yeare, wherefore there best and readiest pay is
there Easter reckonings—so much for every head in the house, so much for
every milke kow, so much for the sheepe. And I have seine with my eyes poore
Abimilech,47 high curate of Rockcleife, beare lynle48 and hempe to the watter
on his backe. O! what disgrace is this to our professione, and what disgrace in
particular to that kirke and kingdome ofEngland which braggs so much [10] of
her learned divines, her pleasant kirks, and bells. For learninge we grant there is
manie learned men among them, but alas! the pore people were not fed by there
learninge. Some hide there light under a bushell, some kyth there learninge in
publishing uncouth tenets more fitt to plucke downe then edifie God’s house.
And some indeede have kithed there learninge, realy and for good (but heare
mee), but while they are frameinge, likeinge, and reviseinge some curious thing
for the presse, the people in meanetyme that belong to their charge are slighted.
45 to haggle over a price.
46 parsons.
47 Probably to be read Ahimelech, who held some high status in the priesthood. 1 Chronicles 24:3.
Used here undoubtedly in disparagement.