Series 5 > Religious Controversy in Scotland 1625-1639

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RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY IN SCOTLAND
4:4. And so likewise profan[en]es is a borderer uppon poperie by the loose prin¬
ciples of which it is much countenanced. It is true there is some sins not so good
cheape amongst them as others, but all may be had at a reasonable rate. And
profane persons whose remainders of conscience tell them they must at least
pretend to some religion or other (unlesse they have arived at the height of
atheisme) readilie pitch uppon that right next hand which would alow most
libbertie, and our present experience gives testimonie of the service these two
fruits of the bishopps’ government have done: prophan[en]es made too great
aversnes to reformation; and ignorance, with the helpe of profan[e]nes, hes fur¬
nished Irish and barboris hillanders to these unatureall rebel[Hon]s to hold this
kirke and state in perplexitie. [13]
The second booke of the Historic of our Scotish Kirke and Kingdome un¬
der the raigne of King Charles the first, monarch of Great Britaine. Begining
with his coronation and first parliment heir which was 1633, continueinge till
the renewing of our Covenant which was in February 1638.
King Charles in the moneth of June 1633 came in proper person to receave the
crowne of his ancient kingdome of Scodand and to hould parliment. Never was
anie king in the world receaved with more joyfiill acclamations of his people of
all rankes then he was.67 The citie of Edinburgh, to there great charges, had sett
up manie costlie shewes, adorned the parliment house and churches and all the
most conspicuous places in the towne. His majestic came in uppon the Saterday
at night. His entrie in was by the West Port whereby he might have a view of the
most part of the towne, and there was prettie speach made to him, and the keyes
of the gates offered. Then in midst of the Strait Bow was errected a gallary, all
with tymber oppen to himward, and a shew was there and annother short speach.
Then at the heade of the Lucken Boothes is annother long gallary wherein was
the portraitures of all the kings of Scotland till himselfe from Fergus I, being 108,
and one representinge King Fergus had a pretie speich, with which and the
shew the king was much delited.At theTron was errected Parnassus Hill,68 the
most curious and costly peice of all.69 His majestic went to the casde and there
all the cannons were lett off. All this way his majestic was conveyed with the
67 Ibid, 131.
A mountain in Greece, associated with Apollo and the muses.
69 NLS,Advocates MSS, 34.5.9, fo. 23v:‘At theTrone was erected a curious hie work called Parnasus
Hill, the most coasdie work of all, for it had on all sydes glass filled with smel [? i.e., scented?] waters
which suld at the king’s cuming by scatter in small drops abrod upon the king and his cumpany. Bot
with a uncannie cast of a finger [?] stone of some fooUsh persons the glasse was broken and the waters
spill, so he went to his palace’.