The Commissioner said—I attest God, I have laboured as a good Christian, loyall subject, and kynd countryman, for the good of this Kirke, laying aside all privat considerations, as I shall answer to God; and, at my last going to Court, I said to some of my particular friends, that I should doe what in me lay for procureing a free Generall Assembly; and now a most free Generall Assembly hath beene procured and indicted: but things in it are so carried that it is like to be a most unfree Generall Assembly. For the reasons I have alreadie expressed, glad would I be to have it utherwayes, as there is nothing which, can be proponed, keeping my self within the bounds of my Commission and fidelitie to my Master, but I shall doe it; for I desyre to [serve] God, my King, and my Countrie. But a weightie burden is layd on the back of a sillie young man overcharged with a toilsome bussinesse, and unable to bring it to such ane end as I would.
Rothes said—And the present evils, and further inconvenients like to come by your Grace rysing, must be ane; and we protest that we are free of all: Therefore it must lye upon these unhappie men; they are the band of all the evils, and their source sends foorth all thir secrete suggestions and privat whisperings against Ruling Elders, is a chiefe cause of this.
The Commissioner said—But I heard these men sweare that, for procureing the peace of the Land, they were content to lay downe their offices and livings, and leave this Kingdome. I grant the offer is but small, for the Prince whom they serve can make it up another way.
The Moderatour said—I wische these men were more wise then to make themselves more odious to the land, by moving your Grace to leave this Assembly; for it is evidentlie seene by all, that they are the cause of your Grace rysing.
The Commissioner said—I grant the cause is be urging in of a declinatour and a protestation against lay Elders; but, truelie, they are free of this my declaration, now red in your hearing, which I desire to be insert in the bookes of the Assembly.
The Sheriff of Teviotdaile said—The paper your Grace craves to be insert, is full of grace and goodness, and the registration of that, proves the bookes to be an allowed Register, and the Assembly to be lawfull; and if your Grace hath protested against the auctoritie of these bookes, and lawfulnes of this Assembly, and will leave it as unlawfull, how disassenting are these?
The Commissioner replyed—Whenever I have assented, it shall stand good.
The Moderatour answered—Your Graces direction to registrat these papers in this, is ane acknowledgement that these bookes are good.
Mr David Dalgleishe said—I perceave, by your Graces speach and the Bishops paper, that they desyre to be cleared of these foule aspersions and imputations given in lybell against them. If, then, your Grace shall leave this Assembly, it is evident that they have the wyte of it, and have no will to be cleared, but would have all their challenges and imputations lye undiscussed.
The Commissioner answered—I am sure the Bishops desyres nothing more then to have a lawfull hearing before a judge free of partialitie; but no man will submitt himself to a judge whom he thinks his partie, as they think this Assembly to be.