Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

The Commissioner said—Your refuiseing to give voit in this Assembly to the Kings Assessours, is enough to prove the contrare, if there were no more.

Rothes answered—Their voits is contrare to the Constitutions and liberties of this Kirke, and therefore our refuiseing must not be taken in evil pairt.

The Commissioner said—That the Kings Majestie hath bruiked the priviledge of having assessours to voit in Assembly these 50 yeares past, and why not in this Assembly, seeing our King hes showen such myldnes and benignes, and hath not uttered any angrie word since I came to this Kingdome?

Rothes replyed—As we acknowledge that he hath beene a good and graceous King, so whatsomever is competent to be done to such a King, shall be done by us, to witt, at his willing, obedience heartilie prayes and wishes that he may lang and prosperouslie reigne over us; and if we doe not so, let not Gods blessing be upon us. But we must so proceed as this free Assembly be not prejudged, nor the liberties of this Kirk impaired, seeing we must make answer to ane higher judge. If the privilege craved were in matters that were in our power, we would soone have yealded; but seeing they are not, I thinke we should be excused.

The Commissioner said—Seeing ye will not give to our King what was given be our predecessours, I cannot thinke ye will have that obedience ye speake of.

Rothes answered—Obey we will, in everie thing dew to his Majestie, be the word of God and lawes of this Kirk, and shall be readie to thrust out of doores all such as will be utherwayes. But if that which is now craved was given in former tymes, not by a right law but by a corrupt practice, and matters were caried utherwayes in his Majesties absence then they should when many moe corruptions, as now to be redressed, why not that amongst the rest?

The Commissioner said—It is enough for us to prove that he had Assessours.

My Lord Rothes said—Let your Grace say that he had be right, and we shall agrie to it.

Moderatour said—Thinkes your Grace of these worthie and Noble Lords that sitt by yow, that this is refuised out of any disobedience to our King, or disrespect to these Nobles, but from a respect to God and his Kirke, and these Commissions may verie weill agrie?

The Commissioner said—No man may thinke but our graceous King will mentaine the liberties of his Kirk in all heartie and sincere wayes as any of his predecessours, and thinke he nowayes intends to incrotche vpon the liberties of the Kirk at this tyme, but only to defend it from the oppression of over-ruleing Elders; and yet I tax no man—for I have no charge to that end; and if I had, I thinke I have a heart to execute my Masters Command as ane other Man. But our King, intending only the maintenance of the puritie of religion in a quyet maner; and, therefore, I desyre that nothing be put in practice in this Assembly by ley Elders, which hath beene so long out of practice. If these Elders should have beene pleased that this Assembly should have beene constitut, after the late ordinar maner, and than have comed in and claimed their right to sitt and voit here in a fair way, I thinke it would have beene granted; for what could conduce more to further a Kings end, and strengthen his auctoritie in ane Assembly, than that a number of wyse and learned laymen should have voit in it? But becaus he intendeth only the preservation of the puritie of religion, he cannot consent that ane Assembly should consist of such a great number of ignorant men, wanting abilitie to judge matters to be handlit heir, but desyred only that this Assembly may consist of the Churches owne pure Members, that so she may receave no prejudice heir.