The Moderatour said—A thousand tymes I wishe the contrare; and I intreat your Grace to heare the voites of this Assembly in this matter, seeing it belongs to the Assembly to be judge of their Constitutions.
The Commissioner said—I must not wrong myselfe, and much more the great bussinesse I am entrusted with, if I should argue the question with such a learned man as yow are; but I thinke it strange, notwithstanding the exceptions, documents, protestations, and declinatours usit be me in name of my Master and Lords of the Clergie, that they can take this matter to the consideration of the Assembly. Surely it is not the Bishops but the King ye have adoe with?
The Moderatour said—I must yet ask if this Assembly finds themselves competent Judges?
The Commissioner said—I wish that question mar be deferred this tyme.
The Moderatour said—It is only the fitt tyme to propone this, after the reading of the declinatour; and I am only a servand to this Assembly, and can doe nothing at myne owne hand.
The Commissioner said—I can tax your carriage in nothing you have done, as a wise and discreit Gentleman; but I see now that this Assembly hes determined to go on for all that can be said; therefore I may no longer keepe silence, but oppose myselfe unto it.
Rothes said—It seemes that the Commissioners Grace hath exceptiounes against this Assembly—for two reasons—first, becaus too many ruleing Elders have voice in it; to which I answer, there are no more nor are warrandit be the word of God, practice of uther Kirkes, and positive law of this Kirke; and if that any yet thinke that Elders should not have voice in this Assembly, alse free as any in former tymes, let them cleare it be good reason, for we are yet readie to dispute the matter. The uther exceptioun his Grace seemes to have against this Assembly is, that he thinkes partialitie will be used heir, and that matters are determined by us before hand, as his Grace hath laboured to cleare be his two papers that are red, which are said to come from the Tables at Edinburgh; but we deny these papers to be ours; and heir I produce the two verie true papers which came from us, which have no thing in them so absurd as is said to be.
The Commissioner said—I excepted not agᵗ your privat, but against your publict papers.
Rothes answered—There came no papers from ws but these two be me produced; and if any uthers there be, they are only the advice of privat men to their privat friends; and if any thing be worth the challenging in these papers, let the author of them answer for it. And now we crave and humblie entreat your Grace if there be any exceptiounes against our former proceedings, that they be declared; for we are verie hopefull to justifie all we have done to the full, and that we shall be able to defend all as warrantable: for we never intendit but to proceed according to the word of God and lawes of this Church and Kingdome.