The Covenanters, then, had not been idle. Shortly after the Restoration
they had, through a deputation of their elders and ministers, called
upon their brethren of the Church to unite with them in an address to
the King, praying him, as a member of the Covenant with themselves, to
remember his obligations to that sacred institution and zealously to
prosecute its blessed work in all his three kingdoms. Toleration in
things religious was especially denounced as a vast mischief disguised
under the specious pretence of liberty for tender consciences.
Schismatics were to be stamped out as sternly as Papists and Prelatists;
and by Schismatics were meant all men, members of their own Church no
less than of others, who ventured to differ from them on any point of
doctrine whatsoever.
The Committee of Estates, which had resumed its sittings, did not like
the job. They called the deputation a private meeting of some protesting
ministers, and clapped the leaders into prison.
A government had now been formed for Scotland. Middleton was Lord High
Commissioner, a soldier of fortune who had been raised to the peerage
for the occasion. He was also named commander-in-chief of the forces and
governor of Edinburgh Castle. With him were associated Glencairn as Lord
Chancellor, Lauderdale as Secretary of State, Rothes as President of the
Council, and Crawford as Lord Treasurer.
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