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We do therefore, in testimony of our abhorrence of the said oath, and in contempt of the like indignity done of old to the covenant in this bloody city, burn the said Oath of Abjuration, with the acts enjoyning the same, and this we do, in the name of all who will own and approve the fact, with the reasons expressed or implied herein, which all the land should do in a more judicial and public manner.

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AT THE CROSS OF EDINBURGH, THIS 28th DAY OF OCTOBER, 1712.

While the said oath and acts were burning on the point of a dagger at the Cross, and going up the High Street, these words following were proclaimed with a loud voice, viz.

Let KING JESUS reign, and all his enemies be scattered; no Abjuration Oath, no oath but the Covenant's; down with Popery, Prelacy, and Erastianism, and up with true Presbytery and the Covenants.

JOHN HALDEN.

PETITION

OF THE

GRAVE AND VENERABLE BELLMEN,

OR SEXTONS,

OF THE

Church of Scotland,

TO THE

HONOURABLE HOUSE OF COMMONS:

Most humbly shereth,

THAT whereas the Reverend Clergy of the Church of Scotland, moved by a sincere regard to the glory of God, which has so conspicuously appeared in men of the sacred character, throughout all ages, have applied to Parliament for an augmentation of their stipends.

And whereas the learned body of Schoolmasters, incited by their pious example, and moved by the same regard to the glory of God, have also applied for an augmentation of their salaries,

And whereas it has pleased the Divine Providence to bless both these applications with such assured prospect of success; it might appear strange, if the grave and venerable body of Bellmen, being also Ecclesiastical persons, though of an inferior character, should be so backward in this Holy cause, and so neglectful of the glory of God, even though called upon by the illustrious and edifying example of their superiors.

The grave and venerable Bellmen, therefore, of the Church of Scotland, having weighed these con. siderations, do now presume to lay their case before the Honourable House of Commons, not doubting but they will meet with the same kind reception which is indulged to the Reverend Clergy and Learned Schoolmasters.

The Venerable Bellmen beg leave to support the petition by the following reasons:

That it can be proved demonstrably from Scripture and reason, that the cause of religion is as intimately and inseparably connected with the temporal interests and worldly grandeur of your Petitioners as with any of these ecclesiastics whatsoever.

That your Petitioners serve in the quality of grave-diggers, the great use and necessity of their order, in every well regulated commonwealth, has never been called in question by any just reasoner; an advantage they possess above their brethren, the Reverend Clergy.

That their usefulness is as extensive as it is great; for even those who neglect religion, or despise learning, must yet, sometime or other, stand

in need of the good offices of this able order

grave

and vener

That it seems impossible the landed gentry can oppose the interests of your Petitioners; since by securing so perfectly as they have hitherto done, the persons of their fathers and elder brothers of the foresaid gentry, your Petitioners next, after the physicians, are the persons in the world to whom the present proprietors of land are the most beholden:

That as your Petitioners are but half ecclesiastics, it may be expected they will not be altogether unreasonable nor exorbitant in their demands.

That the present poverty of your Petitioners in this kingdom is a scandal to all religion, it being easy to prove, that a modern Bellman is not more richly endowed than a primitive apostle, and consequently possesseth not the twentieth part of the revenues belonging to a Presbyterian Clergyman.

That whatever freedom the profane scoffers and freethinkers of the age may use with our Reverend Brethren the Clergy, the boldest of them trembles when he thinks of us; and that a simple reflection on us has reformed more lives than all the sermons in the world.

That the instrumental music alloted to your Petitioners being the only music of that kind left in our truly reformed churches, is a necessary prelude to the vocal music of the Schoolmaster and Minister, and is by many esteemed equally significant and melodious.

That your Petitioners trust the Honourable

House will not despise them on account of the present meanness of their condition; for having heard a learned man say, that the Cardinals who are now Princes, were once nothing but parish curates of Rome, your Petitioners observing the same laudable measures to be now prosecuted, despair not of being one day on a level with the nobility and gentry of these realms.

May it therefore please, &c. &c.

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HONOURED AND WORTHY SIR,

It having pleased the Lord to visit his sinful people of this Church with many and great tribulations, it was with consolation we saw a kind of Pisgah prospect opened to us of better days, by the application of the Reverend Ministers and Learned Schoolmasters for an augmentation of their stipends and salaries; and we, having no less zeal in our inferior station, for the same holy cause, have also

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