Hamilton,
Concerning our Preparations here, I have commanded the Comptroller to give you a full account, of which you may take publick notice, and declare, That as their Carriage hath forced me to take care to arm myself against any Insolence that may be committed; so you may give assurance that my care of Peace is such, that all those Preparations shall be useless, except they first break out with insolent Actions. Now for Answer to your Letter, it was never heard that one should be both Judge and Party: besides, the Lawfulness of the Judicatory must be condescended upon, before any Cause can be therein lawfully determined: therefore I say that the Assembly can in no case be Judge of their own Nullities: yet you have reason, not onely to make good what I have promised, but also to promise them a new Assembly, upon the amendment of all the Faults and Nullities of this. I approve of both your Bargains, and shall take care that you shall not lose by them, and so I rest
Your assured constant Friend,
Charles R.
Whitehall,
17 Nov. 1638.
1638.—November 20.
88. Letter from Bishops of Ross and Brechin to the Commissioner.[113]
May it Please your Grace,
What came from my Lord S. Andrews is herewith enclosed. We humbly and heartily thank your Grace for your excessive favour and kindness towards us: we must take it the more kindly, that we know at such a time it is to let others see what respect your Grace carries to our Coat; for our selves we could more willingly chuse a more sober diet and less ease: considering our own Sins, and the difficulties of the Times, do admonish us rather to fast than feast, to afflict our Souls rather than to relish any worldly pleasure. But above all we two for our selves, and in name of our Brethren, do with most thankful hearts acknowledg your Graces most pious care of the Liberties of this poor distressed and distracted Church; and especially the solicitude and care your Grace hath, that our Protestation be orderly done, secretly kept, and seasonably presented, before either the Cause, or we that are Bishops, suffer wrong. It is that which now concerneth us most and is dearest to us, both for Conscience before God, and our credit to the present Age and future; and we cannot express how happy we are to have in this Exigent such a Pious and Noble Patron, careful and sollicitous with the most tender affection both of our Cause and Persons, where otherwise (with the greatest loss, at least hazard, can be, to discharge our Duty to God and his Church) we should be necessitated to doe it our selves, and haply neither with so much safety nor honour. God will reward your Grace we are confident, and bless your Grace and yours; for we dare aver in this Division your Grace hath made choice of the better part. The Difficulties are great, the Hopes none, but too pregnant Fears to the contrary; yet it is the more like to be Gods Cause, that his Work may appear: and it may be called digitus Dei, and marvellous in our eyes. Mans extremity is Gods opportunity.
We have given Dr Hamilton our best directions, which we submit humbly to your Graces better Judgment, to add and command what you think fit: he needs no more Deputation, but the inserting of his name in the Procuratory, which is in the close of the Declinator. Above all we have recommended to him, a care that it may be timeously presented; but in this we trust only to your Grace.
As we pity the Difficulties your Grace is cast into, so shall we be earnest supplicants to God Almighty, to bless and preserve your Grace in this and all other Services, wherewith God and his Majesty hath trusted you.