My Lord Rothes said—Please your Grace to heare the true directions from that Table; for, in trueth, I never heard of these given in be your Grace; and, when ours are read, we trust we shall be found to surrogat no auctoritie to ourselves.
The Moderatour said—If any good success come from these directions, it is to be imputed to God, and not to their auctoritie.
My Lord Lowdoun said—I would ask at your Grace, what are these directions from the Counsell Table, which have not gotten readie obedience from us? For I know none but such as could not be obeyed for conscience sake, and that cannot be compted disobedience.
The Commissioner said—I know that all my Masters Commands are justifiable, and such as good Christians should obey; and I thanke God for his righteous and clement heart.
My Lord Lowdoun said—We think that your Graces labours hes still turned matters to the better, and we pray it may be so still, till thir matters be at ane end.
The Moderatour said—I would ask the voits of the Tables, whether you thinke yourselfes a Nationall Assembly or not?
The Commissioner said—If I could patientlie continow, I should tell my opinion; but seeing now my loyaltie and faithfull discharge of my Commission is in hand, I must remove my persone; for my estate is not so deare to me as my reputation and fidelitie to my Master.
The Moderatour said—We only crave the renewing of your Graces former patience.
The Commissioner said—I cannot assist nor consent to any thing that is done heir, except ye adhere to that which ye have heard red, in the sealed paper; and still I protest that nothing done here may inferre his Majesties consent or myne, or yet oblidge any of his good subjects.
Rothes said—After many supplications were presented to his Grace, your Grace was imployed for satteling of matters, and we expected a happie conclusion when your Grace promised to deale for a free Assemblie; and, if any just exceptiones were against the Prelats persone or discharge of their office, it should be referred to the Assembly: And now the free Assembly is granted, and is fullie constitut. If your Grace, who is a cheafe Member of it, be protestation and deserting of it, labours to make this Assembly most unfree, it is more nor we expected. If your Grace hath any just exceptioun against our former proceedings, or doth feare that we shall not proceed in such a just maner as becomes us, we are readie to cleare our selves. In both we shall repell, or give satisfaction, for bygones, or for tyme to come—the law of God, and Constitution of this Kirke, shall be ane rule, as it hath beene hitherto.