The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

The poor labourers of the ground, the poor desolate Beggars, Orphans, Widows and Strangers,¹ and the poor Ministers of Christ Jesus his holy Evangel; which are so cruelly used by this last pretended Order taken for sustentation of Ministers, that their latter misery far surmounteth the former; for now the poor labourers of the ground are so oppressed by the cruelty of those that pay their hire, that they for the most part encroach upon the poor, in whatsoever they pay unto the Queen, or to any other. As for the very indigent and poor, to whom God commands a sustentation to be provided of the Tenths, they are so despised,² that it is a wonder that Sun giveth heat and light to the earth, where Gods Name is so frequently called upon, and no mercy (according to his Commandment) shown to his Creatures. And also for the Ministers, their Livings are so appointed, that the most part shall live but a Beggars life: And all cometh of that impiety, that the idle bellies of Christs enemies, must be fed in their former delicacy. We dare not conceal from your Majesty, and honours our conscience, which is this, That neither by the Law of God, neither yet by any just Law of man, is due unto them, who now most cruelly do exact of the poor and rich, the two parts of their Benefices, as they call them. And therefore we most humbly require, That some other Order may be taken with them, that they be not set up again to empire above the people of God; for we fear that such usurpation of their former state, will be neither in the end pleasant to themselves, nor profitable to them that would place them in that Tyranny. If any think that a competent Living is to be assigned to them, we repugn not, provided ⟨p. 339⟩that the Labourers of the ground be not oppressed, the poor be not utterly neglected, and the Ministers of the Word so hardly used, as now they are. And finally, That those idle bellies, who by Law can crave nothing, shall confess, that they receive their sustentation and maintenance, not of debt, but of benevolence. Our humble request is therefore, That in every Parish some part of the Tithes may be assigned to the sustentation and maintenance of the poor within the same: And likewise that some public relief may be provided for the poor within Burroughs, that Collectors may be appointed to gather;