receaved your Supplicatioun, desyreing that the Covenant, with the
explanation of this Assemblie, may receave the force of ane Act of
Counsell, to be subscryved by all the Subjects of this Kingdome; and
we find your desire so fair and reasonable, that we conceave it our
bounden duetie to grant the same, and thereupon have made an Act of
Counsell to that effect. Now, there is a second Act to be expected in
this Assemblie; and I am so fullie satisfied that I come now as his
Majesties Commissioner to consent fullie unto it. I am willing that
it be enacted here in this Assemblie, to oblidge all his Majesties
Subjects to subscryve to the said Covenant with the said explanation:
and becaus there is a third thing that was desired—in respect I am to
subscryve with a declaration—that I should sett doune the same in write
and show it to the Assemblie. As a Subject, I shall subscryve to the
Declaration of the Assemblie as followes:—
“The Article of this Covenant which was at the first subscription
referred to the determination of the Generall Assemblie, being now
determined, and thereby the 5 Articles of Perth and governement of the
Church and Bishops, the civill places and power of Churchmen, upon the
reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the Assemblie, declaired
to be _unlawfull_, I subscrive according to the determination of the
said free and lawfull Generall Assemblie.”
As his Majesties Commissioner, I shall subscrive to this Declaration:—
“Seeing this Assembly, according to the laudable forme and custome
heretofore keeped in the like cases, doth in a humble and duetifull
way supplicat to his Majesties Commissioner, and the Lords of his
Majesties most honourable Privie Councell, that the Covenant, with
the explanation of this Assemblie, might be subscryved; and, to that
effect, that all the Subjects of the Kingdome, by Act of Counsell, be
required to doe the same; and that therein, for vindicating themselves
from all suspitions of disloyaltie, or derogating from the greatnes
and auctoritie of our dread Soveraigne, have therewith added a clause,
whereby this Covenant is declaired ane in substance with that which was
subscryved by his Majesties father of blessed memorie 1580, 1581, 1583,
and often 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 first declaration
and subscription, subscryve to the Act of this Assemblie of the dait
the 17 of this instant, allow and consent to, that the Covenant be
subscryved throughout all this Kingdome. And in witnes whereof I have
subscrived thir premisses—_Sic subscribitur_,
“JOHN EARLE OF TRAQUAIR. Commissioner.”
* * * * *
_The Commissioners Grace his Declaration prefixed before his
Subscription [of] the Act of this Assemblie the 17th of this Instant.
Sess. 8._
“I, John Earle of Traquair, his Majesties Commissioner in this
present Assemblie, doe, in His Majesties name, declair, that,
notwithstanding of his Majesties oune inclination, and manie other
grave and weightie considerations, that such is His Majesties
incomparable goodnes, that, for settleing the present distractions
and giveing full satisfaction to the Subjects—doth allow, like as I,
his Majesties Commissioner, doe consent to the forsaid Act, and have
subscryved the premisses—_Sic subscribitur_,
“JOHN EARLE OF TRAQUAIR, Commissioner.”[236]
After the reading whereof, his Grace promised that the first thing
should be done in Parliament, should be the ratification of all the
whole premisses and Acts of Assemblie: at the hearing whereof, such
unspeakable joy was wakened in the hearts of the whole Assemblie,
that some could scairce containe themselves, but did expresse their
incessant desires to acknowledge the God of Heaven with praises of King
Charles, with his oune due acknowledgement for such undeserved and
unexpected favours, with clapping of their hands, and crying “God save
the King!”
The Commissioner said—Let everie Christiane hearte judge if this nation
hes not great cause to pray for the prosperitie of the throne of King
Charles.
The Moderatour said—It is incumbent to us having now gotten this Act
of Councell and your Graces auctoritie, that we lykewise of this
Assemblie, joyne our Ecclesiasticall sanction for the subscription of
the Covenant, and renew (as it becomes us) the Ats for that effect,
that we may be all one.
Then the rolles were called, and the whole Assemblie most unanimouslie,
in one voice, with many expressions of joy among hands, did agrie
according to the forsaid Act of Councell; and the Commissioner his
Declaration, that the Covenant should be subscrived by all the subjects
within this kingdome, under all Ecclesiasticall censure; and so after
thanksgiving by the Moderatour, the Assemblie dismissed. To meit at 4 a
clocke in the afternoone.
* * * * *
Sessio Ultima.—August _Penultima—hora quarta._
After in calling upon the name of God, the Moderatour said—Please your
Grace: the wrong fathered booke is perused, and is now to be considered
by the Assemblie; and there is a Supplication in readinesse to be
presented to your Grace, that the samen (as a matter that toutcheth his
Majesties honour verie nearlie) may be represented to his Majestie.
The Commissioner answered—I have receaved the Supplication, and shall
represent the same to his Majestie.
The Moderatour said—We cannot passe by your Grace and the Parliament,
as two steppes whereby we mind to ascend to his Majestie.
The Commissioner said—I will receave it here, and he may take course
to represent it to this Parliament. The Commissioner desired that the
short tyme might be well spent.
The Moderatour answered—We are waiting for a Covenant, to the end your
Grace may subscrive it.
The Commissioner answered—I must take a tyme to collation what I
subscryve, and I shall doe it in als publict a way before the Estates
in Parliament; for he must be tratour both to God and man that
subscryves the Act which I have done alreadie, and will not subscrive
the Covenant.
The Moderatour desired his Grace to heare the Overtures that were to be
given in to the Parliament, as followes:—_First_, That the Acts of this
Generall Assemblie be approven and ratified, and that all former Acts
of Parliament, ratification, &c., (_hic diest._) Ane overture, showing
the necessitie of having a Commission at Edinburgh, with power from
this Assemblie if neid require, and for frameing a humble Supplication
to his Majestie, to thanke him for his late favours, to hear all humble
grievances in Kirk affaires, to represent the same to his Majestie,
and receave his Majesties graceous answer, and report all to the next
Assemblie.
After much agitation betwixt the Commissioners Grace, the Earle of
Rothes, Lord Lowdoun, and the Moderatour, it was condescendit upon that
the Assemblie should grant the foresaid Commission to the Presbitrie of
Edinʳ, upon condition they meet only upon their ordinary Presbitrie day.
The humble Supplication of our countrymen who travell in the neighbour
kingdomes, prest with ane unlawfull oath, contrare to our Covenant
subscryved be them, to be exeemed from the said oath, being willing to
sweare the oath of alleadgeance, or to give any other declaration of
their loyaltie to his Majestie which is compatible with our Confession
and Covenant—recommended most humblie and earnestlie to the Parliament.
Mr Patrick Lindsey, his Supplication being read at the Commissioners
desire, grants a conference to him, and referres the proces to the
judge competent.
The Moderatour desired, that since the Assemblie had gotten the
Commissioners auctoritie for subscryving of the Covenant with ane
Act of Councell enjoying the same, that they might adde their
Ecclesiastical sanction thereunto; whereto the Rolles being called,
the whole Assemblie unanimouslie agried that ane Act should be framed
to that effect; the tennour whereof followeth. [Vide p. 208 of these
Records.]
The Moderatour asked if any man knew of any matter to be proponed
before the closure of the Assemblie. It was answered there was no more
to be done but the tyme and place of the next Generall Assemblie to be
condescended upon.
The Assemblie, with consent of the Commissioners Grace, fand it
expedient that the next Generall Assemblie should sitt at Aberdeene,
the last Tuysday of Julii, [1640.]
* * * * *
_The Moderatour his last Speach before the closure of the Assemblie._
This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoyce and be glad
in it: a glad day it is which we long looked for, and we are the most
oblidged nation to our God and our King under the coppe of Heaven; and
therefore our Lord ought highlie to be praised, and our King heartilie
acknowledgit. First, our Lord ought to be praised, becaus in trueth he
hath wrought wonders in our sight; for he hath declaired exceedinglie
his mercie and his justice to Scotland. First, he hath declaired his
justice; first, upon us Ministers; secondlie, upon yow of the State;
thirdlie, upon our adversaries the Prelats. First upon us of the
Ministrie. We studied not to be spiritual in our doctrine, and thought
matters but small at the beginning, and therefore the Lord suffered
men to make slaves of some of us, and tyrannize over the conscience
of uthers. Secondlie, upon yow of the State. Ye looked through your
fingers when Prelats were creeping up and miskend the matter, and the
Lord suffered them to ryde over your necks: And never did any, (not a
King excepted,) exalt a Minister above his station, but that Minister
exalted Popedome over his bellie that exalted him. Thirdlie, justice
upon our adversaries the Prelats. They would not be content of the
title of Ministers but of Lords, and he hath taken both from them,
and powred shame upon them withall. Thus hath the Lord manifested his
justice, but in such a way that he hath also manifested his mercie in a
wonderfull maner; first to our ministers, 2ˡⁱᵉ to the Kings Majestie,
3ˡⁱᵉ to the State.
First, he hath not given our souls over to death and delusion, nor
suffered us to goe utterlie to defection, but hes in the midst brocken
off all their plotts, who thought to have caused everie mans purse
light in their lapp, and showen furth his justice on them. Secondlie,
He hath manifested mercie to the King in keeping him from shedding
innocent blood, which is no griefe to his Majestie this day; and this
the Lord hath convayed in such a way as is wonderfull to Scotland, in
blessing weake meanes, so as he would not have humane power seene; for
there was never a steppe of our bussines but we were still put to a
noneplus what to doe. Next, and when we knew not what to doe, then did
the Lord come and poynt out the way before us, and did so leappie out
our blessings to us, that whenever we got a little hope we gott feares
upon the back upon it, to keipe us from being wantoun, and did so cogg
the running of our wheeles that he made a considerable pairt of the
Lords of Councell to stand aloofe from our bussines, which tempered all
thinges in Gods providence (whatever men intendit) that it tendit all
to our good. Thirdlie, He has manifested such great mercie and love to
our State, as, when we marke the passages of it, it is wonderfull to
sie a State troubled so long, and in a legall manner settled againe; a
great wonder to sie such commotions and so few ill fruites following
upon it; a great wonder to sie Scottsmen going through-other, and in
such a sturre for the space of two years, and a peaceable conclusion.
There is a wonder to sie Prelats bigg their nest up in Heaven, and
call themselves the triumphant Kirk, and the Lord bringing them doune
lower than the dust. There is a great wonder after many tumults and
Assemblies, such a peaceable Assemblie as this; which is more to heare
Prelats saying that King Charles should not brooke his crowne except
they stood, and that it should fall with them, and yet to see King
Charles brooke his crowne, and they to fall—a great wonder!
Now since the Lord hath done so, let his great name be exalted. Let all
of us lay our hands on our mouths, for the Lord hath done it. He was
provocked ten thousand tymes to cutt the warke in the midst, and yet
hes beine pleased to draw it to this great lenth; therefore love the
Son of God who hes taine power and glorie to himselfe, sittin downe on
his throne, and purged his house; so that now there is no ordinances
in this Kirk that we ken of but Christs. All we ministers are only
servands, bound to give our accompt of all that we doe, and to show
our letters from our Master, or else speire ye at us—Wherefore bidd ye
us do that? Where is your Commission? For we have no power but as a
messenger of armes, who must ay show his warrand. Would to God we knew
our Masters bewtie, and the glorie of the Sone of God! Then would we
all be affected with greater measure of love to him then we have beine,
and will goe about his flocke, and bestirre ourselves more carefullie
for their behoove then we have done. And any of us that gives ourselves
out for Christs servands who gets meat and fie from him, declair it to
the world by feeding of his flocke.
Now for the Kings Majestie: let us leave flatterie, and speake solide
and soft words, such as beseemes a grave Assemblie: And, for this end,
I will propone three things concerning the Kings Majestie, which doth
enforce a favourable construction of his Majestie by us. Ane is his
Majesties education. Had any of yow beine brought up as his Majestie,
and never seene any uther thing, I trow ye should have stucken as hard
by that cause as he. A second is the information of these that his
Majestie trusted much into; for there is not a Prince in the world
more accessible, nor giveth more in trust to these that he receaves
in kyndnes and favour, which is a propertie of a verie good Prince.
Now, when Bishops were Counsellors, of whom should his Majestie take
counsell but of Churchmen and Counsellours both? Secondlie, consider
this: Kings cannot understand all things in a Kingdome. They must trust
some, and whom (thought he) should he trust but these that was most
oblidged to him, had their being of him, and were created for that end?
And yet, of all men in the world, they did him worst service.
The third is this—the manner of the Kings proceedings toward this land.
His proceedings hes never beene as an enemie, but to try us and put us
to proofe what we were seeking. When we did supplicat, he gart blow the
trumpet, and discharge us all off the toune, to try if we would ceasse
there; gart discharge us from all the judgment seats; and when we
proceedit on, he thought he would essay us with our lyves; and so his
Majestie came not in armes to destroy but to try us. Why? As soone as
he had tryed us, and found that we were seeking nothing but religion,
and were loyall in our hearts to him, presentlie his Majestie folded
and layd doune armes. This I speake, that ye may wiselie prye in the
matters of princes, and neither thinke, speake, nor write utherwayes
then becomes yow, and not only temper your tongues in speaking of him,
but love your Prince yourselfe, and procure all that yow can, love
and obedience towards him of others. And trewlie, whoever knew him
described, they would thinke him verie love-worthie. First, he is the
most gentle-natured Prince; secondlie, the least suspitious; thirdlie,
a Prince more readie to forgive faults when they are acknowledged;
fourthlie, the most loath to take misinformation when it is given,
then any Prince in the world; fifthlie, and which is ane odd thing, he
hath not a face against reason. Bring reason to him and he will yield;
and if these be not poynts of a lovelie Prince, judge ye. Sixthlie,
and which is most of all, that he hes quate his aune inclination and
education, and said to his Commissioner and this Assemblie, “Goe yee
and doe as yee find Gods Word and the Constitutions of this Kirk
warrands yow; goe your way; serve God according to his Word; and
whatever yow conclude according to that rule, I shall authorize it.”
Seventhlie, there is no Prince in the world so cleare of infirmities
as he. These things being well considered, and withall, his Majestie
being farr from us, and considering in what danger princes are
in—subject to als many tentations as tries that are on a hill head,
obnoxious to divers blasts and winde—and have need to be supported by
the prayers of their people.
These thinges, I say, being well considered, will make all men
construct favourable of his Majestie; and if we will rander that duetie
of humble thankes and heartie prayers, who knowes but he shall be the
most comfortable instrument for advancement of religion in the whole
world; and this little distance that hes beine, may end in the sweetest
reconciliation that ever was seene betweene a King and a People? And
becaus we would give a right construction to all under his Majestie who
have procured our good, I will ranke all these that ran not in the same
course with us, to seeke the peace of the Kirk, in three rankes: First,
some followed the Prelats, and being affected with Poperie, they knew
no better hyding place then under the Prelats mantle. A second sort,
that followed the erring judgement of the misinformed conscience; and
these ought to be pittied of all that knowes them. A third sort are
those who walked in a State way; and it is not the day nor yesterday
that they have merite of us a favourable construction. It was evident
they loved both the King and the State; for they divided themselves to
have gained peace. When themselves were with the King, their soules
were with us; and my Lords of Councell who have stayed with us at this
tyme and countenanced our proceedings, ought also to have their aune
thankes. And for your Grace, we thinke a large scoare is due to yow;
for if God had not put your Grace upon this Act, there had beene many
hard thoughts of yow, for we thought yow still over farr inclyning
to the other syde of it. But its Gods mercie to yow, and count it no
small favour, that yow are made the instrument to croune this worke in
a maner. Lay it up in your heart and in your charter-kist as a most
speciall obligation, to make yow imploy your excellent witt and all
that yow have, for Christ, who lettis none that does fear him want
their reward.
And we will not forget the Marqueis of Hamilton, who, according to
report, hes loved our peace. Howsoever, he was ance in a passage, that
if he had come any further, he might have hazarded soul and bodie both:
Yet we will give him a favourable construction.
Now, there rests a word to every ane of yow, Commissioners and Members
of the Court of our Lord Jesus Christ: for I compt this ane of the
chiefest courts that Christ holds on earth. Elders, sett your hearts to
assist the worke of the ministrie; for ye are officers to oversee the
maners of everie ane within the Kirk, that they miscarie not, and to
take notice what fruites of the Gospell are brought foorth. Ministers,
be faithfull to your Master; and, above all thinges, love ane another,
Stryve not ane with another; neither insult over those that have beine
of a discrepant judgment from us, anent the matter of ceremonies and
the governement of the Church; but let us make a perpetuall act of
oblivion in all our memories of such thinges. Let us be glad together.
Let us lay aside all disputes that have taken up much tyme which might
have beine better spent; but we were necessitat unto it for clearing
of ourselves and of our cause. And if thus ministers will doe, I will
speake prophesie to yow: It shall come to passe that if yow will keepe
yourselves at your booke and your chamber and studie, to be powerfull
and spirituall in doctrine, ye shall have more credite nor if ye ran
to Court ten thousand tymes. Your paroches shall travell to Edinʳ to
plead for your stipend, whereas before they let you goe yourselves.
Therefore wait upon your calling, and your Lord and Master shall have a
care of yow. Let us be instant with our Lord to get his Spirit powred
out upon us; for the word without the Spirit is but like a tinckling
cymball. To him who will doe this, and who hes wrought, and will worke
all our workes for us, be praise!
And so, after prayer by the Moderatour, and singing the 23 Psalme, and
saying the blessing, the Assemblie depairted, joyfullie and glad for
all the wonders that God had done for this Church and Land.
FINIS.
THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
AT ABERDEEN, 1640.
After perusing the Reports which we have given of the proceedings in
the Assemblies of 1638 and 1639, and the several relative documents
therewith connected, our readers, we are convinced, will agree with
us, that the mere Acts, as they are technically termed, of these and
similar Assemblies, convey but a faint and feeble impression of the
real character of those Conventions. They are but the dry bones, as it
were, of our Ecclesiastical Constitutions. It is in the circumstances
attendant on their enactment; the causes in which they originated;
the muniments of the period, (sometimes public and frequently long
concealed); the reasonings of the antagonist parties, and incidental
outbreaks of individual feeling; and, more especially, in the dramatic
movements of debate in popular assemblages—that we catch the true
spirit by which the more formal enactments are re-awakened in the
present age, and presented to the eye and the mind of a modern student
with all the vividness and force of scenes passing daily around us.
We have now reached the Acts of the Assembly 1640; but, ere we proceed
to that very limited portion of our undertaking, we must be permitted
to take a review of the more prominent features of the Assembly
in 1639, and of the events which intervened betwixt that and the
subsequent meeting in 1640.
It will be recollected that, by the Treaty of 18th June 1639, it was
stipulated that all matters _ecclesiastical_ were agreed to be settled
in a General Assembly, and matters _civil_ in the Parliament and
inferior judicatories established by law. Unhappily for the King and
the Covenanters, this vague and general basis was soon found to be too
narrow to bear the superstructure which each party intended to rear on
it; and ere the parties had retired to their several homes, the seeds
of future collision were sown. No dear and precise line of distinction
was drawn in the treaty, betwixt what was to be deemed ecclesiastical
and what civil; and in his warrant for the proclamation by which the
Assembly and Parliament of 1639 were indicted, the King, on the 29th
of June, directed that all “Archbishops, Bishops, and Commissioners
of Kirks,” among others, entitled to place and voice therein, should
attend, as Members of the Assembly, on the 12th of August following.
This, in the estimation of the Covenanters, was tantamount to a
departure from the spirit of the treaty, in which nothing was said
in plain terms as to the constituent Members of that Assembly. The
Covenanters could not, as the King well knew, recognise Archbishops
and Bishops as legitimate Members of a General Assembly of the Kirk of
Scotland—the intrusion of them into the Church being all along stated
as their chief and leading grievance, for the removal of which, and the
oppressions thence resulting, they had taken up arms. Of this the King
and his Counsellors were fully aware—and therefore his proclamation
was truly the signal for a renewal of the agitations which had
ostensibly been quelled. It was literally keeping his word of promise
to the ear, but breaking it to the hopes of his Scottish subjects;
and, accordingly, no sooner was the proclamation issued, than it was
followed by the usual flood of protestations and manifestoes on all
hands. No doubt Episcopacy was still the unrepealed law of Scotland,
and the parties, by mutual consent, had agreed to wave all discussion
as to the Assembly of 1638; yet, if the King honestly intended to leave
Church matters proper, to the decision of a new General Assembly, to
be afterwards considered and ratified in Parliament, he was bound to
have informed the Covenanters explicitly, that the Assembly of 1639
was not to consist (as they necessarily understood) of Members chosen
on the old Presbyterian platform, but of Prelates and Statesmen sent
thither by virtue solely of the Royal prerogative, and who were not, in
any intelligible sense, the representatives of the Scottish Church. In
short, (as is proved by his correspondence with the fugitive Prelates,
and other evidence,) his entering into the treaty of 18th June was a
mere juggle, and his promise of a Free General Assembly a palpable
fraud—his settled purpose being unquestionably to restore Prelacy
whenever he could, and to render the deliberations of the promised
Assembly altogether nugatory, with reference to the objects for which
it was sought and agreed to.