Part 10 (1/2)
That all Ministers or Intrants presented to Kirks, be tryed before their admission, if they be qualified for the places to which they are presented, besides the ordinary tryalls of Expectants before their entrie to the Ministerie.
_The a.s.sembly alloweth this article._
Sess. 23. August 30. 1639.
_The Supplication of the General a.s.sembly to the Kings Majesties Commissioner, concerning the Book, called_, The large Declaration.
We the Members of this present a.s.sembly, for our selves, and in name of the severall Presbyteries, Burghs, and Universities, for which we are Commissioners resenting the great dishonour done to G.o.d, our King, this Kirk, and whole Kingdome, by the Book called, _A large Declaration_, have here represented the same to your Grace, and have collected some amongst many of false grosse and absurd pa.s.sages; That from the consideration thereof, your Grace, perceiving the intolerable evills foresaids contained therein, may be pleased to represent the same to our gracious Soveraigne, and in our behalfs humbly to beseech his Majestie, so much wronged by the many foul and false relations, suggested and perswaded to him as trueths, and by stealing the protection of His Royal Name and Authoritie to the patrocinie of such a Book: To be pleased first to call in the said Book: and thereby to shew his dislike thereof: Next to give Commission and warrant, To cite all such parties as are either knowne or suspect to have hand in it, and to appoint such as His Majestie knowes to be either authors, informers, or any wayes accessarie, being Natives of this Kingdome, To be sent hither to abide their tryall and censure before the Judge Ordinary, and in speciall Master _Walter Balcanquell_, now Deane of _Durham_, who is known and hath professed to be the author, at least a vower and maintainer of a great part thereof; that by their examplar punishment, others may be deterred from such dangerous courses, as in such a way to raise sedition betwixt the King and His Subjects, G.o.ds honour may be vindicate from so high contempt, His Majesties justice may appear, not only in cutting away such Malefactors, but in discouraging all such under-miners of His throne, His loyall and loving Subjects shall be infinitly contented to be cleared before the world of so false and unjust imputations, and will live hereafter in the greater securitie, when so dangerous a course of sedition is prevented, and so will have the greater and greater cause to pray for His Majesties long & prosperous Reigne.
_His Majesties Commissioner in Councell having received the said supplication, promised to impart the same to His Majesty, and to report his diligence therein._
_The Supplication of the a.s.sembly to His Majesties High Commissioner, and the Lords of secret Councell._
Wee the Generall a.s.sembly, considering with all humble and thankful acknowledgement, the many recent favours bestowed upon us by His Majestie, and that there resteth nothing for crowning of His Majesties incomparable goodnesse towards us, but that all the members of this Kirk and Kingdom be joyned in one and the same Confession and Covenant with G.o.d, with the Kings Majestie, and amongst ourselves: And conceiving the main lett and impediment to this so good a work, and so much wished by all, to have been the Informations made to his Majestie, of our intentions to shake off Civil and dutiful obedience due to Soveraignity, and to diminish the Kings greatnesse and authoritie, and being most willing and desirous to remove this and all such impediments which may hinder and impede so full and perfect an Union, and for clearing of our loyaltie, WEE in our own names, and in name of all the rest of the Subjects and Congregations whom we represent, do now in all humility represent to your Grace, His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable privie Councel, and declares before G.o.d and the World, that we never had nor have any thought of with-drawing our selves from that humble and dutiful obedience to His Majestie, and to his Government, which by the descent & under the reign of 107 Kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our predecessors: And that we never had, nor have any intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may tend to dishonour of G.o.d, or the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authoritie: But on the contrary, acknowledging our quietnesse, stabilitie and happinesse to depend upon the safety of the Kings Maj. Person, & maintenance of His greatnesse and Royal authority who is G.o.ds Vice-gerent set over us, for the maintenance of Religion and ministration of Justice, We have solemnly sworn and do sweare, not only our mutual concurrence and a.s.sistance for the cause of Religion, and to the uttermost of our power, with our means and lives, to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne, his Person and authority, in preservation and defence of the true Religion, Liberties and Lawes of this Kirk and Kingdome, but also in every cause which may concerne His Majesties honour, shall according to the Lawes of this Kingdome, and the duties of good Subjects concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner, or in armes, as we shall be required of His Majestie, His Councel, or any having his Authority. And therefore being most desirous to cleare our selves of all imputation of this kinde, and following the laudable example of our predecessors, 1589. do most humble supplicate your Grace, His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His Majesties most honourable privie Councell, to enjoyn by Act of a Councel, that this Confession and Covenant, which, as a testimony of our fidelity to G.o.d, and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed, be subscribed by all His Majesties Subjects, of what rank and quality soever.
_The Act of the Lords of Councel at_ Edinburgh, August 30. 1639.
_containing the_ Answer _of the preceding_ Supplication.
The which day in presence of the Lord Commissioner and the Lords of privie Councel, compeired personally _John_ Earle of _Rothes_, _James_ Earle of _Montrose_, _John_ Lord _Lowdoun_, Sir _George Stirling_ of Keir Knight, Sir _William Douglas_ of Cavers Knight, Sir _Henry Wood_ of Bonytoun Knight, _John Smyth_ Burgesse of _Edinburgh_, Mr. _Robert Barclay_ Provest of Irwing, Mr. _Alexander Henderson_ Minister at Edinburgh, and Mr.
_Archbald Johnstoun_ Clerk to the General a.s.sembly, and in the name of the present sitting General a.s.sembly, gave in to the Lord Commissioner, and Lords of privie Councel, the Pet.i.tion above written; which being read, heard, and considered by the saids Lords, they have ordained, and ordain the same to be insert and registrate in the books of Privie Councel, and according to the desire thereof, ordaines the said Confession and Covenant to be subscribed in time coming by all His Majesties Subjects of this Kingdome, of what ranke and quality soever.
_The Kings Majesties Commissioners Declarations._
The which day His Majesties Commissioner, and Lords of Councel, after the receiving of the Supplication of the General a.s.sembly, anent the subscribing of the Covenant, having returned to the a.s.sembly, His Majesties Commissioner in name of the Councel, declared; That he had received the Supplication of the a.s.sembly, desiring that the Covenant might receive the force of an Act of Councel, to be subscribed by all His Majesties Subjects, that they had found the desire so fair and reasonable, that they conceived themselves bound in duety to grant the same; and thereupon have made an Act of Councel to that effect: And that there rested now the Act of a.s.sembly. And that he himself was so fully satisfied, that he came now as his Majesties Commissioner to consent fully unto it: And that he was most willing that it should be enacted here in this a.s.sembly, to oblige all his Majesties Subjects to subscribe the said Covenant, with the a.s.semblies explanation. And because there was a third thing desired, His subscription as the Kings Commissioner, unto the Covenant, which he behoved to do, with a Declaration in writ, and he declared as a Subject, he should subscribe the Covenant as strictly as any, with the a.s.semblies Declaration; but as His Majesties Commissioner in his name behoved to prefix to his subscription, the Declaration following, which no _Scots_ Subjects should subscribe, or have the benefit of, no not himself as Earle of _Traquair_. The tenor whereof follows:
Seeing this a.s.sembly, according to the laudable form and custome heretofore kept in the like cases, have in an humble and dutiful way, supplicate to us His Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of His most honourable Privie Councel, That the Covenant, with the explanation of this a.s.sembly, might be subscribed: And to that effect that all the Subjects of this Kingdome by Act of Councel be required to doe the same: And that therein for vindicating themselves from all suspitions of disloyaltie, or derogating from the greatnesse and authoritie of our dread Soveraigne, have therewith added a Clause, whereby this Covenant is declared one in substance with that which was subscribed by His Majesties Father of blessed memory 1580, 1581, 1590. and oftner since renewed. Therefore I as His Majesties Commissioner, for the full satisfaction of the Subjects, and for settling a perfect Peace in Church and Kingdome, doe according to my foresaids Declaration and Subscription, subjoyned to the Act of this a.s.sembly of the date the 17 this instant, allow and consent that the Covenant be subscribed throughout all this Kingdome. In witnes whereof I have subscribed the premisses.
_Like as his Majesties Commissioner, read and gave in the Declaration following, of his consent to the Act of the a.s.sembly_ 17. August, _anent the causes of our by gone evils._