Chapter XXVI: The Covenant
“16th May, 1656.—Solemn thanksgiving for the overthrow given by the Majesty of God to James Grahame, appointed to be kept on Wednesday come eight days.”
Their rejoicing was of short duration. Two years after this Charles II. came to Scotland and was recognised as King by the Covenanters, they having induced him to sign the Covenant, and “to humble himself in the sight of God for his father's opposition to the Solemn League and the idolatry of his mother.” Charles had no sooner landed in Scotland than Cromwell with his Ironsides marched across the Border, and the Covenanters opposed him with an army which they had previously purged by dismissing from its ranks every soldier suspected of malignancy, and who had not subscribed the Covenant. They were met by a set of fanatics who were better soldiers if not so orthodox as themselves, and at Dunbar their ranks were scattered and broken. The defeat of the Scotch army at Worcester by Cromwell a year afterwards completed their discomfiture, and for nine years Scotland was more truly a province of England than it had been in the time of Edward the First. The Puritans had a strong detachment at Paisley. They taxed the inhabitants severely, levied from them considerable sums of money, forbade the usual courts, took possession of the Town-house and Tolbooth, and even compelled the Council to furnish them with the luxury of feather beds. [9] They exercised a wholesome influence over the tyrannical ecclesiastics who had hitherto had it their own way. Probably, as in other parts of Scotland, they abolished the stool of public repentance, which they regarded as a relic of the Roman sacrament of penance, and perhaps some of them even exercised their gift as preachers in the parish pulpit, as they did in other places to the great disgust of the ministry. They certainly ventured to interfere with that high court of inquisition the Presbytery, and we have the strange picture given of a Puritan officer bursting in upon this conclave as they were solemnly seated in the Abbey. It is amusing to think of these grim sons of the Covenant domineered over by a set of fanatics even grimmer than themselves. In only one point did the new fanaticism differ from and excel the old—the sectaries had some idea of religious liberty, whilst the Covenanting Presbyterians had none. The following extracts relate to this time of Puritan rule :—
“Sept., 1640.—In respect of our army in the fields against the sectaries is scattered at Dunbar, and that the gentlemen and ministers of the western shires are to meet at Kilmarnock, the presbytery appoints Mess. Alexander Dunlop and John Mauld to repair thither, and to concur with them in any good and necessary course for safety of the cause and kingdom.”
“10th Aug., 1653.—This day unexpectedly, Captain Greene, one of the English army, with ane partie of soldiers, invadit the Presbyterie, and by violence interrupted their sitting, carried them out to a house in the town, and detained them there as prisoners, alleging that all presbyteries were discharged and had no power to sit. Thereafter, they being dismissed, did again convene, and considering the great distraction of the times, and the uncertainty of the continuation of their liberties, appointed the ordination of Mr. William Thomson to the ministrie at Merns, to be at Merns tomorrow, and the day to be observed as ane day of humiliation.”
“1st Sept., 1653. —Compeared Captain John Green, one of the English officers, who, declairing that he was come to sit with the Presbytery, exhibited ane warrant from Collonell Lillbure for that purpose. The Presbytery did declare their great dissatisfaction therewith, and that with their consent he should not sit with them. Whereupon he did forbear for the tyme.”
[9] Very curious entries are in the Town Council Records relating to the occupation of the English. Their first appearance is in 1651. In letters from “The Roundhead Officers,” (Bannatyne Club), there is one given dated Paisley, Feb. 15, 1657.