David Black was educated at the University of St Andrews. He was admitted to the ministry of the church (on the recommendation of Andrew Melville) as minister of St Andrews in November 1590. Having offended James VI by "certain unreverent, reproachfull and infamous speeches in his sermons", he was summoned before the Privy Council on 18 November 1596, but declined its jurisdiction "in matters spiritual". In this he was supported by "his whole brethren of the ministrie". Twelve days later he lodged a second declinature, but was found guilty on 2 December, and "the penaltie referred to the King's will and pleasure". On 9 December he was ordered to enter his person in ward. The Synod of Fife petitioned the King to restore Black to his charge, but that was not done, and he was translated, and admitted to Arbirlot in 1597. He was presented to the vicarage by James VI on 15 May 1598. "While on his way to Perth he died suddenly at Dundee, of apoplexy, immediately after having given thanks at a meal, Tuesday 12 January 1603. He had preached and dispensed the Communion on the preceding Sunday. Political setting With principles so opposite to the spirit of freedom and of the Scottish church, it is not surprising that James and the presbyterian ministers should have been perpetually at variance. The clergy, jealous of their religious rights, openly and vehemently denounced the king's proceedings from the pulpit; and the king, on the other hand, threatened all with civil pains who ventured to condemn his measures, or question his authority as supreme potentate of the church. "There would never be peace," he said, "till the marches were rid between them." Determined, however, to " rid the marches'"' in his own person, he summoned one of the most zealous of their number, Mr. David Black, minister of St. Andrews, to answer before the privy council, for certain treasonable speeches, as he termed them, which he had uttered in the pulpit. Black, in his own name, and in that of his brethren of the ministry, sent in a declinature to the council, denying their authority to sit as judges of his doctrine, in the first instance or till he was tried by the church courts. They saw clearly that this prosecution was put out as a feeler to ascertain how far the church would yield; and, to use their own