more than a round dozen were enacted. After long delay, and much
thronging, being set in our places, the Moderator, for the time,
offered to my Lord Commissioner a leet, whereupon voices might pass
for the election of a new Moderator. Here arose the toughest dispute
we had in all the Assembly. His Grace, the Treasurer, Sir Lewis
Stewart, (for, after the rencounter I wrote of at the Council table,
the Advocate’s service was no more required, but Sir Lewis used in his
room,) reasoning and pressing with great eagerness, that, in the first
place, before any Synodical action, the commissions might be discussed,
lest any should voice as Commissioners whose commission was null, at
least not tried to be valid. This was a ready way to turn the Assembly
upside down, and to put us in a labyrinth inextricable: for, before the
constitution of the Synod, the Commissioner would have so drawn in the
deepest questions—such as the power of elders, the state of ministers
censured by Bishops, and many moe, which himself alone behoved to
determine, no Assembly being constitute for the discussion of any
question. Against this motion, as rooting up all possibility ever to
settle any Assembly, but at the Commissioner’s simple discretion,
Rothes, Loudon, (Balmerino, through all the Assembly resolved to be
well near mute,) Dickson, Livingston, Henderson, reasoned, that custom,
equity, and necessity, did enforce the chusing a moderator and clerk
before the commissions be discussed, or anything else done. After
much subtle, accurate, and passionate pleading—for both sides had
prepared themselves, it seems, for this plea—the Commissioner craved
leave to retire with the council for advisement. After a long stay
in the chapterhouse, returning, he was content to permit voicing for
the moderator; with protestation, That this voicing should not import
his approbation of the commissions of any voicer against whom he was
to propone any just exception in due time, or his acknowledgement of
any voicer for a lawful member of the Assembly. His Grace required
instruments also of another protestation, That the nomination of a
moderator should be no ways prejudicial to the lords of the clergy,
their office, dignity, or any privilege which law or custom had given
them. Against both thir, Rothes took two instruments, in name of the
commissioners from presbyteries and burghs, protesting, That his
Grace’s protestations should in nothing prejudge the lawfulness of any
commission against which no just nullity should be objected in the
time of the trial of the commissions; also, that his Grace’s second
protestation should not hinder the discussing the nature of the office,
and the alledged privileges of the pretended bishops, in this present
assembly. Lord Montgomery, in name of the pursuers of the complaint
against the bishops, protested, That his Grace’s protestation should
not be prejudicial to the discussing in this present assembly, of their
complaints against the persons, titles, dignities, and privileges of
the pretended bishops. Mr Jo. Bell urged the voicing for the moderator;
but his Grace shewed, that there was presented to him a paper, in
name of the bishops, which he required then to be read. Here also was
some sharp reasoning. Divers alledged, that no bill, supplication,
protestation, or whatsoever, should be read to the Assembly, before it
was an Assembly; but immediately after the Assembly’s constitution,
it should be in his Grace’s option to cause read that paper of the
Bishops, or any other, to which the Assembly’s answer should be
returned. After reasoning and requesting, his Grace used his authority
to require the reading of the paper. At once there arose a tumultuous
clamour of a multitude crying, No reading! No reading! This barbarous
crying offended the Commissioner, and the most of all. Silence being
gotten, his Grace protested, That the refusal of hearing that paper
was unjust. Rothes also required acts of his protestation, in name of
the commissioners, That the refusal was just and necessary. All being
wearied with the multiplication of protestations, except the Clerk, who
with every one received a piece of gold, his Grace, whether in earnest
or in scorn, protested of our injury in calling the Lords Bishops
pretended, whom yet the acts of Parliament authorized. Rothes, in our
name, protested, That they behoved to be taken for pretended, till
this Assembly had tried the challenges which were given in against all
their alledged prerogatives. How needless soever many of his Grace’s
protestations seemed to be, yet I was glad for his way of proceeding.
It gave me some hopes of his continuance among us. I thought that this
way of protesting had been resolved wisely in council, whereby the
Commissioner might sit still till the end, and yet, by his presence,
import no farther approbation to any of our conclusions than he found
expedient. By appearance this course had been much better than that
abrupt departure, which his posterior instructions, to all our griefs,
and the great marring of the King’s designs, forced him to. Mr John
Bell again presented his leet for moderation. His Grace shewed, that
his Majesty had written letters to six of the counsellors, Treasurer,
Privy Seal, Argyle, Lauderdale, Carnegie, and Sir Lewis Stewart, as I
think, to be his assessors, not only for council, but voicing in the
synod. Argyle’s letter was publickly read, that this his Majesty’s
desire should be condescended to before any farther proceeding. It was
replied, with all respect to the worthy nobles named, That my Lord
Marquis, in the produced commission, was appointed sole Commissioner;
that assessors were only for council, and not for multiplication of
voices; that the King in person could require but one voice; that the
giving of more voices to the assessors might give way, not only to very
many, as in some unallowable assemblies it had been, but to so many
as by plurality might oversway all. Against this refusal his Grace
protested, with some grief; and we also, desiring that our reasons
might be inserted without protestation. At last we were permitted
to chuse the Moderator. Mr John Ker, Mr John Row, Mr J. Bonner, Mr
William Livingston, and Mr Alexander Henderson, were put in the leet
by Mr John Bell; for the leeting of the new is in the hands of the
old. Messrs Ramsay, Pollock, and Dickson, for withdrawing of votes,
were holden off. All, without exception, went upon the last, as in
the most of our matters there was no diversity at all, or, where any,
it was but of a few. I remember not how his Grace voiced; but it was
his custom to voice rather by way of permission than to say anything
that might import his direct assent; for it seemed he resolved to keep
himself, in all his words and deeds, so free, that he might, when he
would, disavow all that was done, or to be done, in that Assembly. Mr
Henderson being chosen with so full accord, made a pretty harangue,
whether off-hand or premeditated, I know not. There was a conclusion
taken that night, after some reasoning to the contrary, to have but one
session in the day, to sit from ten or eleven, to four or five. So we
were all relieved of the expenses of a dinner. An only breakfast put
us all off till supper; for commonly we sat an hour with candle-light.
We ended this day with the Moderator’s prayers. Among that man’s other
good parts, that was one—a faculty of grave, good, and zealous prayer,
according to the matter in hand; which he exercised, without fagging,
to the last day of our meeting.
“3. In our third session, on Friday November 23, the Moderator
presented a leet to be voiced for chusing the Clerk. Here a longer
dispute than needed fell out betwixt the Commissioner and the
Moderator, whom Rothes, but especially Loudon, did second. The
Commissioner, whether of true intent to have a base clerk, of whose
submissiveness to their injunctions they might be hopeful, or to shew
his piety and equity to see every one kept in their right, where he had
place, though he professed small obligation to the young man, who, for
no entreaty, would be pleased to shew him any blink of the Assembly’s
books; yet pressed much that the young man, Mr Thomas Sandilands,
might serve here, as his father, Mr James Sandilands, Commissar of
Aberdeen, his depute, since his father’s decease could not spoil him
of an advantageous office, whereto he was provided _ad vitam_. Yet it
was carried, that since his father was not provided to that office but
by Mr Thomas Nicolson’s demission, and a corrupt Assembly’s consent,
without any mention of deputation; also, since he was so infirm as he
was unable to attend the service, and unwilling to reside at Edinburgh,
where the registers of the Church behoved to lie; for thir, and many
other reasons, the clerk’s place was found to be vacant. Consideration
was promised to be had of Mr Thomas Sandiland’s interest, which
he submitted to the Assembly’s discretion. In the leet, Mr Thomas
was first, after John Nicol, and Alexander Blair, and Mr Archibald
Johnston. The Commissioner would not voice to any of them, because he
saw no lawful demission of the former clerk. The Moderator then took
his Grace for a _non liquet_. Yesternight’s plea was here renewed. His
Grace required that his assessor’s voice might be craved in the clerk’s
election: the Moderator thought it unfit to trouble their Lordships to
voice about a clerk, since they did not voice to the choosing of the
Moderator, a superior office. Many words were here spent, till at last
reasons in writ were produced, why the Commissioner and his assessors
should have but one voice. I thought, in the time, these reasons were
of an high strain, and some of them struck deeper on authority than I
could have wished. Traquair craved a double of them, and promised an
answer; but the subsequent affairs, or somewhat else, hindered that
answer yet to appear. This high, yea highest question, (for in all the
Assembly we had nothing else that concerned authority,) was closed by
the renewing of yesternight’s protestation, on both sides.
“The leet put to voicing, Mr Archibald Johnston, by all save one,
was elected. Being deeply sworn, he was admitted to all the rights,
profits, privileges, which any in former time had enjoyed by that
place: To him, Mr James Sandilands, in face of the Assembly, delivered
two registers, which contained the acts of the kirk since the year
1590, testifying that his father had never any more in his custody.
The Moderator required all earnestly to procure the production of any
of the church-registers that could be had; for the loss of such a
treasure as the Church’s evidence, was pitiful. His Grace protested his
willingness to do his endeavour for so good a work. Rothes intreated
that the Bishops might be caused deliver what they had: for it was
known that King James had sent a warrant to Mr Thomas Nicolson, late
Clerk, to deliver to the Bishop of St Andrew’s, the Registers of the
Church. After much regretting the irreparable loss of these writs, the
new Clerk declared, that by the good providence of God, these books
they spake of were come to his hands, which he there produced to all
our great joy. Five books in folio, four written and subscribed, and
margined with the known hands of one Gray and Ritchie, clerks to the
General Assembly, containing the full register from the Reformation
in 1560, to the year 1590, where Mr Thomas Sandilands’s books began,
except some leaves which Bishop Adamson had torn out. Thir one Winram,
depute to Mr Thomas Nicolson, had left to one Alexander Blair, his
successor in office, from whom Mr Johnston had got them. The first was
an extract, by way of compend, from the 1560 to the 1590, whereby,
in a good part, the twenty-three leaves of Adamson’s rapine might
be restored. The moderator craved that these books might be sighted
by Argyle, Lauderdale, and Southesk: but the Commissioner would not
permit his assessors to undertake such employment, since they were
refused to voice in the Assembly; but he was content that a committee
of the members of the synod should be named, to try if these books
were authentick and full registers. So Mr Andrew Ramsay, Mr John
Adamson, Mr James Bonner, Mr John Row, Mr William Livingston, Mr
Robert Murray, with young Durie, the clerk of Dundee, and Mr Alexander
Pierson, advocate, were appointed to their report and reasons, as soon
as they could. The moderator then required, that for the Assembly’s
full constitution, the commissions might be put to trial. But the
commissioner caused D. Hamilton first to be called, and present
his paper to be read. His Grace urged much, that, since the former
objections were removed, of the want of a moderator and clerk, the
paper might now be read. It was replied, over and over, that it could
not be, till by the discussion of the commissions the Assembly were
constitute. Traquair pressed—That the paper possibly had exceptions
against the lawfulness of the election of the commissioners, which were
impertinent to alledge, if once they were approven. The Commissioner
assured, he knew not what was in these papers; but, presupposing they
were formed for the opening of the eyes of those who were to voice
anent the members of the Assembly, it was the only time to read them
before the voicing. Rothes replied—That exception against particular
commissioners might not be proponed, until the trial of their
commissions; and exceptions against the whole Assembly could not be
heard till it were an Assembly. The moderator added, that if in that
paper there were any light to open their eyes, they should shortly
profess their repentence of their error in not reading it, when it was
required. His Grace protested—That this not reading before the trial
of the commissions, should import no prejudice to the lords of the
clergy, and their adherents; and of this protestation he required an
act from the new clerk’s hand. The clerk said, he could write no act
without the Assembly’s warrant, and it could give no warrant till once
it was in being. The Commissioner then required instruments, in my Lord
Register’s hands, of his protestation, since the clerk refused. The
clerk shewed his willingness, at the moderator’s directions, to write
his Grace’s protestation; but might give no extracts till the Assembly
were constitute. In the forming of this protestation, the clerk, I
thought, was to seek in that; his wit he kythed ever thereafter; the
act behoved to be formed and reformed; the commissioner and the clerk
shaped it over and over again, ere they could fall on a fashion which
his Grace could like. This made me pity Johnston, and think him the
better advocate than clerk; but the youth’s tried sufficiency in both
the acts proves my mistaking, or at least that this intake in the first
entry to his office was but occasional, and merely accidental.
“In the progress of this dispute his Grace shewed the necessity that
was laid on him, in this passage, to be punctually circumspect, for
howbeit he was a great Commissioner; yet he was but a poor subject and
servant, liable to account for all his service. Much reasoning was that
the bishops’ exceptions against the judges should be heard, before they
were acknowledged and constitute for judges. When Traquair and Loudon
had harped on this string a while, Argyle lends in his word, that a
party gives in their exceptions against the assize before it be sworn;
so why might not the bishops give in their exceptions against the
Assembly, which now was like an assize, called and conveened, but not
yet sworn? The moderator cuttedly, (as the man naturally hath a little
choler, not yet quite extinguished,) answered—That the Commissioner,
his Grace, was of great sufficiency himself; that he only should speak
there; that they could not answer to all the exceptions that a number
of witty noblemen could propone; that these who were not commissioners
would do well to inform his Grace of what they thought meet, in
convenient time. This check, I believe, was intended more for others
than for Argyle, who would have taken it worse if it had fallen on
their fingers. Always Loudon took it off in a quick jest, that my Lord
Argyle’s instance was good, if the bishops had compeared as pannelled
men before an assize. This wearisome plea ended that day’s action, for
his Grace acquiesced in his protestation.”
* * * * *
Having thus, by the foregoing notes and extracts, in some measure
prepared the general reader for entering on an examination of the Acts
and Proceedings of the General Assembly of 1638, it only remains that
we should explain the arrangement which we have adopted in digesting
the subject-matter of these pages; and, in stating the following
outline of that arrangement, with respect to one Assembly, it is right
to state, that we mean to follow out the same plan with regard to all
the years that follow. In reference, then, to this first Assembly, we
shall present our materials in the following order, viz.:—
I. The Acts of the Assembly, which were extracted by the Clerk, and
printed in the year 1639.
II. An Abstract of the Proceedings, and a List or Index of all the Acts
of the Assembly, authenticated by Archibald Johnston the Clerk, copied
from an extract thereof under his hand, which is deposited in the
Advocates’ Library.
III. Historical Documents relative to the events which occurred in
Scotland betwixt 1633, and the sitting of the Assembly in Nov. 1638.
IV. A Report of the Discussions in that Assembly, from an unpublished
contemporary M.S.
V. Notes and Illustrations of these proceedings, derived from
contemporary and collateral sources.
In closing these introductory remarks, we must guard ourselves against
the possible imputation of being blind and indiscriminate admirers of
the Covenanters. We are fully alive to all the exceptionable points in
their character and career; and we should have studied our country’s
history and human nature very superficially indeed, if we had not,
long ere now, discovered the infirmities and obliquities which were
mingled with their higher attributes. It cannot be doubted by any
man who has studied the history of the period of which we have given
a rapid sketch, that they often swerved from what was the straight
path of rectitude; and it is impossible to peruse even the most
partial narrative of their consultations, without also discerning, in
the policy and proceedings of the Covenanters, the alloy of selfish
interests and grovelling passions—the fumes of fanaticism, the
unrectified workings of a semi-barbarous spirit, and much democratic
insolence. There was withal a tone of preternatural sanctity assumed,
which savours strongly of hypocrisy in many of the individuals who
figured in their counsels. But, after giving full effect to all
these deductions from their merits, we can never forget that these
deformities were, in a great measure, created and brought prominently
into view by circumstances which rendered it almost impossible that
such characteristics should not have been called into existence. We can
never forget that they were goaded into the courses which they pursued
by an unjustifiable series of aggressions on the dearest interests of
human beings—by an open and outrageous assumption of arbitrary power
over the lives, property, and liberties, civil and religious, of the
country; and that their numerous loyal and dutiful supplications for
redress and security, were treated with duplicity and contempt. And
above all, we can never forget that it is to the noble stand which
was made by the Covenanters of Scotland against arbitrary power and
Popish tyranny in disguise, two hundred years ago, that we are, in a
great measure, indebted for the enjoyment of the invaluable Protestant
Institutions in Church and State which we now possess, and which, in
the course of time, and from new combinations of causes, seem, in the
present day, to be once more exposed to similar perils. May the present
generation, in the maintenance of these precious institutions, avoid
those errors—the simulation and the intolerance of former times—and may
their patriotism be elevated to purity by imitating only the virtues of
the Scottish Covenanters!
THE
PRINCIPALL ACTS
OF THE
SOLEMNE GENERALL ASSEMBLY
OF THE
KIRK OF SCOTLAND,
Indicted by the KINGS MAJESTIE, and conveened at Glasgow the XXI. of
Nov. 1638; Visied, Collected, and Extracted forth of the Register of
the Acts of the Assembly, by the Clerk thereof. Edinburgh, printed by
the Heirs of ANDREW HART. Anno Dom. 1639.
_The King’s Commission to James Marquesse of Hamiltoun._[23]
Carolus Dei gratia, Magnæ Britanniæ, Franciæ, & Hiberniæ Rex,
fidcique Defensor, Omnibus probis hominibus suis ad quos præsentes
literæ pervenerint, Salutem. Sciatis nos considerantes magnos in
hoc regno nostro Scotiæ non ita pridem exortos tumultus, ad quos
quidem componendos multiplices regiæ nostræ voluntatis declaretiones
promulgavimus, quæ tamen minorem spe nostrâ effectum hactenus
sortitæ sunt: Et nunc statuentes ex pio erga dictum antiquum regnum
nostrum affectu, ut omnia gratiosè stabiliantur & instaurentur, quod
(per absentiam nostram) non aliâ ratione melius effici potest quam
fideli aliquo Delegato constituto, cui potestatem credere possimus
tumultus hujusmodi consopiendi, aliaque officia præstandi, quæ in
bonum & commodum dicti antiqui regni nostri eidem Delegato nostro
imperare nobis videbitur. Cumque satis compertum habeamus obsequium,
diligentiam, & fidem prædilecti nostri consanguinei & consiliarii,
JACOBI MARCHIONIS HAMILTONII, Comitis Arraniœ & Cantabrigiæ, Domini
Aven & Innerdail, &c. eundemque ad imperata nostra exequenda
sufficienter inatructum esse, Idcirco fecisse & constituisse,
tenoreque præsentium facere & constituere præfatum prædilectum nostrum
consanguineum & consiliarium JACOBUM MARCHIONEM de HAMILTOUN nostrum
Commissionarium ad effectum subscriptum. Cum potestate dicto JACOBO
MARCHIONI de HAMILTOUN, &c. dictum regnum nostrum adeundi, ibidemque
præfatos tumultus in dicto regno nostro componendi, aliaque officia
à nobis eidem committenda in dicti regni nostri bonum & commodum
ibi præstandi, eoque Concilium nostrum quibus locis & temporibus ei
visum fuerit convocandi, acrationem & ordinem in præmissis exequendis
servandum declarandi & præscribendi; & quæcunque alia ad Commissionis
hujus capita pro commissâ sibi fide exequenda, eandemque ad absolutum
finem perducendam et prosequendam conferre possunt tam in Concilio
quam extra Concilium, nostro nomine efficiendi & præstandi; idque
similitèr & adeo liberè ac si nos in sacrosancta nostra persona ibidem
adessemus. Præterea cum plena potestate dicto JACOBO MARCHIONI de
HAMILTOUN, prout sibi videbitur nostro servitio & bono dicti regni
nostri conducere, conventum omnium ordinum ejusdem regni nostri
indicendi, ac publica comitia & conventus eorundem ordinum eorumve
alterius vel utriusque quibus temporibus & locis sibi visum fuerit
statuendi, & ibidem nostram sacratissimam personam cum omnibus
honoribus & privilegiis supremo Commissionario nostri Parliamenti
& publici conventus incumben similiter adeoqae amplè sicut quivis
supremus Commissionarius quocunque tempore retroacto gavisus est
gerendi: Necnon cum potestate præfato JACOBO MARCHIONI de HAMILTOUN
Synodos nationales ecclesiæ dicti regni nostri tenendas temporibus &
locis quibus sibi visum fuerit indicendi, & ibidem seipsum tanquam
nostrum Commissionarium gerendi, omniaque eisdem tenendis inservientia
secundum leges & praxin prædictæ ecclesiæ & regni nostri præstandi: Et
hac præsenti nostrâ Commissione durante nostro beneplacito duratura,
& semper donec eadem per nos expressè inhibeatur. In cujus rei
testimonium, præsentibus magnum sigillum nostrum unà cum privato nostro
sigillo (quia præfatus MARCHIO de HAMILTOUN impræsentiarum eat magni
sigilli custos) apponi præcepimus, Apud Oatlands vigesimo nono die
mensis Julii, Anno Domini millesimo sexcentesimo trigesimo octavo, Et
anno regni nostri decimo quarto.
Per signaturam manu S.D.N. Regis suprascriptam.
_The King’s Letter to the Generall Assembly._
Although We be not ignorant that the best of Our actions have beene
mistaken by many of Our subjects in that Our antient Kingdome, as
if We had intended innovation in Religion or Lawes; yet considering
nothing to be more incumbent to the duty of a Christain King, then
the advancement of God’s glory, and the true religion; forgetting
what is past, We have seriously taken to Our Princely consideration
such particulars as may settle and establish the truth of Religion in
that Our ancient Kingdome, and also to satisfie all Our good people
of the reality of Our intentions herein, having indicted a free
Generall Assembly to be kept at Glasgow the 21. of this instant; We
have likewise appointed Our Commissioner to attend the same, from whom
you are to expect Our pleasure in every thing, and to whom We require
you to give that true and due respect and obedience, as if We were
personally present Ourselves. And in full assurance of Our consent to
what he shall in Our name promise, We have signed these, and wills the
same for a testimonie to posterity to be registered in the Bookes of
the Assembly. At White-Hall the 29. of October 1638.
Act Sess. 6. November 27. 1638.
The testimonie of the Committy, for tryall of the Registers, subscribed
with their hands, being produced, with some reasons thereof in another
paper, and publickly read; My Lord Commissioner professed that it had
resolved him of sundry doubts, but desired a time to be more fully
resolved.
The Moderatour desired that if any of the Assembly had anything to say
against the said testimonie for the books, that they would declare it;
and finding none to oppon, yet he appointed the day following, to any
to object anything they could say, and if then none could object, the
Assembly would hold the Registers as sufficiently approven.
Act. Sess. 7. November 28.
_Act. Approving the Registers._
Anent the report of the Assemblies judgment of the authority of the
books of Assembly; the Moderatour having desired that if any of the
Assembly had anything to say, they would now declare it, otherwise they
would hold all approven by the Assembly.
The Commissioner his Grace protested that the Assemblies approving
these books, or anything contained in them be no wayes prejudiciall to
his Majestie, nor to the Archbishops, and Bishops of this Kingdome, or
any of their adherents; because he had some exceptions against these
books. My Lord Rothes desired these exceptions to be condescended on,
and they should be presently cleared, and protested that these books
should be esteemed authentick and obligaterie hereafter.
The whole Assembly all in one voice approved these books, and ordained
the same to make faith in judgment, and out-with, in all time comming,
as the true and authentick Registers of the Kirk of Scotland, conform
to the testimonie subscribed by the Committie, to be insert with the
reasons thereof in the books of Assembly: Whereof the tenour followeth.
WE under-subscribers, having power and commission from the generall
Assembly now presently conveened, and sitting at Glasgow, to peruse,
examine, and cognosce upon the validity, faith and strength of the
books and registers of the Assembly, under-written, to wit: A register
beginning at the Assembly holden the twentie day of December 1560, and
ending at the fourth session of the Assembly holden the 28 of December
1566.
Item, another register beginning at the generall Assembly, holden
the second day of June 1567, and ending at the fourth session of the
Assembly holden at Perth the ninth day of August 1572, which register
is imperfect, and mutilate in the end, and containeth no leaf nor page
after that page which containeth the said inscription of the said
fourth session; which two registers bears to be subscribed by John Gray
scribe.
Item, a register of the Assembly holden at Edinburgh the seventh day
of August 1574, and ending with the twelfth session, being the last
session of the Assembly 1579.
Item another register beginning at the Assembly holden at Edinburgh
the tenth of May 1586. and ending in the seventeenth session of the
Assembly holden in March. 1589.
Item another, register being the fifth book, and greatest volume,
beginning at the Assembly holden in Anno 1560. and ending in the year
1590.
Having carefully viewed, perused and considered the said registers,
and every one of them, and being deeply and maturely advised, as in a
matter of greatest weight and consequence, do attest before God, and
upon our conscience declare to the world and this present Assembly,
that the saids foure registers above expressed, and every one of them,
are famous, authentick, and good registers; which ought to be so
reputed, and have public faith in judgement and out-with, as valid and
true records in all things; and that the said fifth and greatest book,
beginning at the Assembly 1560 and ending 1590. being margined by the
hand-writs of the Clerk, and reviser of the registers, cognosced, and
tryed, and agreeable to the other foure registers, in what is extant
in them, ought also to be free of all prejudice and suspicion, and
received with credit. And in testimonie of our solemne affirmation, we
have subscribed these presents with our hands.
Sic subscribitur,
Master ANDREW RAMSAY.
Master IOHN ADAMSON.
Master IOHN ROW.
Master ROBERT MURRAY.
Master ALEXANDER GIBSON.
Master IAMES BONER.
Master ALEXANDER PEERSON.
Master ALEXANDER WEDDERBURN.
_Reasons prooving the five Books and Registers produced before the
Assembly to be authentick._