The truth is, if you give them an Inch, they will take an Ell,
and be like Thorn in your sides, when you think to have more
quiet and security. Therefore, you must demolish the whole
structure of that Hierarchy if you will bee at rest: For, the
Assembly leads the Classes; the Classes the Parochial Priests,
and these all (more or less) lead the Common-people by the
Assembly leads the Classes; the Classes the Parochial Priests,
and these all (more or less) lead the Common people by the
nose upon any expedition; so that if the State shall have need
to levy men, little will be done, upon any occasion, without the
consent of the Soveraign Kirk Authority.
Thus much for the Kirk; now for the State, it is every
way as complete a medley of petty Tyrannies as the other:
for, the Lord and the Laird have as absolute dominion over
Body and Goods, as the Priest hath over both Soul and Body,
within their several commands; and therefore it were
the highest Art of Charity in the world, to free the people
out of both ther clutches: without this, your work will never
be throughly done; you must make the Commonwealth
Landlord, or, or you do nothing: for, if you use the great
ones never so kindly, they will abate nothing of their old enmity
as yet; and therefore any kindness will but enable them
to work the greater mischief, and contribute more to a sutb-born
opposition, then a hopeful reformation; the truth of
which will soon be more apparent, if ever Charles Stuart find
Shipping and entertainment beyond Sea: no matter then,
how you use the great ones in their kind, if you take a course
which way to ease the people, and make them sensible of the
difference betwixt an English and a Scotish Governor: which
being done the common sort will be tied unto you, and the
less apt to follow their old Leaders, upon new Alarms and Insurrections.
Wee could wish our Supplies were better; but rest satisficed
in expectation of receiving them, and Commissioners also
in due time, to take care for the preservation of that Interest
here, which hath cost the Parliament so much Blood and
Treasure. It will not be good losing time: For, the great
ones (being at the last gasp) will struggle again; the most
considerable of them now at liberty, are Argile, Huntley