Bedell on the absurd principle, the application efficient, soon after the dissolution e ས་ས་n བ h I. By re far from being realized, n time, led to a temporary Wentworth, by rigidly insistral covenants of plantation ts held their lands, had suband had even threatened to eizure of their estates. is might be expected, a conThe landed proprietors, includere becoming more and more wing proceedings. But lest they Ders of his first parliament, which mmon, he deemed it necessary to . time at least, might appease their eir just apprehensions.) At this d Castlestewart, a zealous patron of (2) having visited the deputy, he ty of interceding for the restoration of S. He suggested how acceptable such the Scottish planters, and how likely 200. Blair's Life, p. 81. d Lord Castlestewart. He was a baronet before better known by the name of Sir Andrew Stewart. to all Scotchmen in Ireland, especially of the nonwho had left Scotland on account of the articles of Lodge, vi. 243. None of his three sons left any title, after lying dormant for many years, was revived the descendants of his younger brother, Robert Stewart Stewartstown, in the county of Tyrone. His presbyards exposed him to the suspicious jealousy of Wentworth, to the king in 1638, thus speaks of his Lordship ;—" I ur majesty's directions concerning my Lord Castlestewart. I was with your majesty, I understand he is an absolute ich moves not me to like him the better, or to judge him signing and swearing to their covenant, if he were in place." ii. 189. The heir apparent of this ancient title has latterly e Roman Catholic religion;—a sad apostacy from the faith of cestors! N CHAPTER IV. Blair's application to Wentworth unsuccessful-Lord Castlestewart interferes— Suspended ministers restored for six months—Deaths of Welsh and Stewart -Conference between Blair and bishop Echlin-Death of Echlin-Is succeeded by Henry Leslie-His visitation sermon- -He suspends five other ministers—Public discussion at Belfast-Death of Brice—Ministers embark for New-England—Are driven back—And compelled to fly to Scotland—Their reception there-Deaths of Cunningham and Ridge-Increasing ty ranny of Wentworth-His arbitrary proceedings—His attention turned to Scotland-State of the Scottish church-Laud's innovations-Book of Canons-Liturgy-Riot at Edinburgh-General Assembly at GlasgowIndignation of Charles-He prepares to invade Scotland. FROM the administration of such a governor as Wentworth, the presbyterians of Ulster had little ground to hope for relief. The course which he designed to pursue towards them was too plainly discovered in his interview with Blair, already described. The haughty deputy, just then entering on his government, treated the humble presbyter with contemptuous disdain; and though Blair produced the king's letter, it only increased his insolence. Instead of acting on his majesty's suggestion of giving the four ministers, unjustly suspended by Echlin, a fair trial, he reproached them for their non-conformity, reviled their parent church of Scotland, and refused to grant them the least indulgence. Disappointed in this quarter, to which they had been for some time anxiously looking for relief, the suspended brethren remained in the country and among their people. They flattered themselves with the hope of the government becoming more tolerant ; and though these expectations were far from being realized, several circumstances, in the mean time, led to a temporary relaxation of their sentence. Wentworth, by rigidly insisting on the fulfilment of the several covenants of plantation under which the northern colonists held their lands, had subjected them to great expense, and had even threatened to proceed to the forfeiture and seizure of their estates. By these measures he had raised, as might be expected, a considerable ferment in Ulster. The landed proprietors, including many of the nobility, were becoming more and more deeply irritated at his harassing proceedings. But lest they might prove intractable members of his first parliament, which he was then preparing to summon, he deemed it necessary to take such steps as, for a time at least, might appease their discontents, and allay their just apprehensions. (1) At this critical conjuncture, Lord Castlestewart, a zealous patron of the northern presbyterians, (2) having visited the deputy, he embraced the opportunity of interceding for the restoration of the suspended ministers. He suggested how acceptable such a measure would be to the Scottish planters, and how likely 1 Straff. Lett. i. 199, 200. Blair's Life, p. 81. 2 This was the second Lord Castlestewart. He was a baronet before his father's death, and is better known by the name of Sir Andrew Stewart. "He was a firm patron to all Scotchmen in Ireland, especially of the nonconforming ministers who had left Scotland on account of the articles of the Perth assembly." Lodge, vi. 243. None of his three sons left any male issue; and the title, after lying dormant for many years, was revived in the year 1775, in the descendants of his younger brother, Robert Stewart of the Irry, near Stewartstown, in the county of Tyrone. His presbyterianism afterwards exposed him to the suspicious jealousy of Wentworth, who, in a letter to the king in 1638, thus speaks of his Lordship ;-" I shall observe your majesty's directions concerning my Lord Castlestewart. Howbeit, since I was with your majesty, I understand he is an absolute separatist, which moves not me to like him the better, or to judge him further from signing and swearing to their covenant, if he were in place." Straff. Lett. ii. 189. The heir apparent of this ancient title has latterly embraced the Roman Catholic religion;—a sad apostacy from the faith of his Irish ancestors! it was to soothe their irritated feelings, and give them a more favourable idea of his character and government. Wentworth, anxious to avail himself of every expedient which might ensure a pliant and peaceable parliament, yielded to the request. But as his views extended no farther than to provide for the existing emergency, he consented to restore the ministers for a limited period only. He accordingly wrote, in the month of May 1634, to bishop Echlin, to withdraw, for six months, his sentence of suspension. The command was promptly obeyed. Blair, Livingston, Dunbar, and Welsh, were therefore once more restored to the exercise of their ministry. "When the news of this unexpected freedom was brought to me," writes the former of these brethren, " I was so astonished, that I slept not for three nights thereafter. The first of these was wholly spent in admiration; the second in thanksgiving to God in fellowship with those of my charge who used solemnly to pray with me; and on the third night, we being now at full liberty to exercise our public ministry, and the ordinary day of my lecture at Bangor following next, I prepared for the work of that day; when I found a large congregation, consisting not only of my own flock, but also of many others from neighbouring congregations, who had come thither without any advertisement. To these I preached on Isaiah xxxviii. 15. What shall I say? He hath both spoken unto me, and himself hath done it.' At which time the people were melted down into tears of joy.-When the silenced ministers preached again," adds Blair," at the monthly meeting, the joy of the people can hardly be expressed. The liberty prolonged to us was, through God's blessing, well improved by all; and the people made more progress in the ways of God than ever before.” (3) This general satisfaction was clouded by the death of two brethren, who had been most laborious and faithful, and who were highly esteemed by all for their work's sake. The for 3 Blair's Life, p. 81-2. |