A true RELATION OF A SCOTCHMAN, who coming into the Church of St. Olaf's in the Old jury in London, at such time as the people were receiving the Communion, did much disturb them, and by force tore the Service-book in pecces, on Sunday Septemb. 5. 1641.  
WITH An admonition to all such abortives amongst us, to persuade them to wait the time of the Lord's Reformation by the Parliament, and not to be so disorderly.  
GOD IS MY HELPER  
London printed by Thomas Harper. 1641. With licence.   

A true relation of the insolence of a Scotchman offered in the Church of Saint Olaf's, in old jury, London, the fifth of September 1641.  
O ye furious Zoilists, do ye imagine that your zeal is good, or that your deeds are lawful, that in these happy days of reformation, will dare of your own accord to reform as you list, as if you would prevent the high and honourable Court of Parliament? Will you be the judge before they have censured? Nay, will you be the executioner before they have judged? Will you be so rash before they have determined? You run too fast, that makes you stumble, you fall ere you be aware, and take heed lest you bruise you sore unexpected. Had we no hope of reformation in things amiss, it were the more to be excused: but seeing reformation is even now in acting by those glorious stars assembled for that very purpose, you are much to be blamed to go about it any other way. Be persuaded therefore, all you who presume to be thus unruly, and trouble not the way that is in working: Is not God's time better than yours? And is not a Parliament way beyond and before your ignorant zeal? Are you grieved? So are we. Would you be relieved? So would we. But you are not in a way to be relieved, if you will run your own way. Petition to that honourable Assembly, they will judge your cause, whose whole study is to make our Churches glorious: therefore stay your hands, and be not so unruly.  

The Relation of the Scotchman.  
1. This Scotchman came into the Church in the Old jury, whilst the people were receiving the Sacrament: here was a great offence, to trouble them at such a time, when they were about so great a work. Is it a small matter to disturb the people at the Sacrament? at such a time the greatest charge concerning the preparation and the celebration whereof, is to receive it with peace? And do but consider what a great unkindness this was to disturb them, and to make an uproar amongst them at such a time? This was as great indignity as could be offered.  
2. It was on the Sabbath day, the Sermon being newly ended, which was a time in which it was fitter for him to have hasted home, that having refreshed himself with the creatures of God, and dined, he might have pondered of what he had heard preached, and considered of what he had been taught concerning his salvation looking to his own particular charge and calling, preparing himself for the partaking of the ordinances and worship of God in the afternoon, that so he might have sanctified the Sabbath to the Lord, and not have run into such strange and disorderly stratagems.  
3. He was a Scotchman, an alien, wherein appears his great sauciness, to be so bold, so audaciously to trouble any of our Churches, himself being a stranger, to take upon him to regulate the affairs in our Churches, who neither was a Magistrate, nor a Divine; no, nor an English man, one of our own nation, but a Scotchman and a laic that was of Scotland, how great is this boldness in him to tear and spoil any thing in the Church as he did, having no right to any such calling, especially in these times in which peace is so happily newly established between us and them, and a day of thanksgiving for that purpose celebrated to the Lord.  
4. He went unto the desk, where the Church books lay, and took up the Service book in his hands; which the clerk seeing, endeavoured to take it from him, which before he could do, the Scotchman tore out a great part of the leaves out of the book: he made martial law with it, in which did appear a great deal of indignity to both the Minister, people, yea, and to the book itself: he offered injustice to the very book, justice should have permitted it to have had a trial, he might have stayed until the Parliament had regulated the matter, there both he and it should have had a fair trial, and just proceedings, and no injustice offered to either part. But herein appears his unrighteous dealing to play the executioner, before a proceeding in any fair trial.  
5. As he would have escaped forth of the Church, he was stayed, and after evening prayer was brought before the Lord Maior. Had he done well, he needed not to fear: Now is the glorious hopes of our reformation, and had he had a just Commission granted for what he had done, from them in whose hands the power is to reform, he needed not fear; but he feared because he did evil, and is like to know that the Magistrate beareth not the sword in vain.  
6. Being examined by the Lord Maior, why he did so, he answered, that it troubled his conscience. But see his folly herein, why should it trouble his conscience, he being neither compelled to use it, nor to partake with those that did use it.  
7 The Lord Maior hath bound him over to answer it at the next Sessions: to whom I leave him to a trial, and advise him to humble himself, and to repent for it, and to dissuade others from the like attempt.  
FINIS.