Mr David Dalgleishe said—If I were in their case, and judged myselfe free of such imputations, I would submitt myselfe to the meanest subject of this kingdome, let be to such an honourable Assembly.
My Lord Lowdoun eikit—If they would declyne the judgment of ane nationall Assembly, I know not ane competent judgment seat for them but the King of Heaven; and, as for us, we sweare we have no personall prejudice at them: but in sua far as they have wranged the Church, the King, and Countrie, we desire they may be censured for it.
The Commissioner said—I stand to the Kings prerogative as Supreme Judge over all causes, civill and ecclesiasticall, to whom I think they may appeale, and not let the causes be reasoned heir.
My Lord Argyle desired the Assembly to heare him a little before his Grace should departe, and said—I was called to this Assembly by his Majestys command; but now, being come, I desyre to cleare myselfe, that my pairt hes bein fair in every thing that I know, neither as flatterer of the Kings Grace, nor for my own ends. I have not striven to blow the bellowes; but studied to keepe matters in als soft a temper as I could: and now I desyre to make it knowne to you, that I take you all for members of a lawfull Assembly, and honest countriemen. As this Assembly consists of members civill and ecclesiastic, I wishe that care may be had that this bodie may byde together, as ye all band yourselves by the late subscryved Confession of Faith; but I desyre that nothing be done in this Assembly to the wronging of that Confession subscryved by us of his Majesties Counsell, as if I had subscryved it with a mynd different from that which all had at the first making and subscryving of that Confession.
My Lord Lowdoun answered—Your Lordships protestation is very reasonable, seeing it is very scandalous that ane Confession should be subscryved be the Lords of his Majesties Counsell and Session, and ane uther be the bodie of the countrie, as if they were two different Confessions of Faith among the professours of ane religione in ane kingdome; therefore, it is earnestlie desyred of all, that the Confession of Faith be cleared, and a full explanation of all the heads and articles of it, that all may heartilie joyne in ane Religion, and duetifull obedience to our King, and that no slander goe abroad to uther nations.
The Commissioner said—What is done by warrand of auctoritie shall be cleared by the lawes of this Kirk and Kingdome, and wayes also shall be found to cleare his Majesties intention and will.
My Lord Lowdoun replyed—We are nothing diffident of that, neither is anything of that sort said by us to prescryve your Grace; but seeing two Confessions are subscryved of divers constructions, as humble supplicants we desyre that the Confession may be cleared, that all his Majesties subjects may be joyntlie tyed to God and the King.
The Commissioner said—I had warrand to give order for that and much more, but alace! I may not now stay.
My Lord Rothes said—It is pittifull that the Confession should not be cleared, seeing it is subscryved with three severall Constructions, and in Aberdein by some after a Popishe maner, admitting all the ordinances of the Kirk introduced or to be introduced, and this is the Papists implicite faith; by uther with that Construction only which it had when it was first subscryved anno 1580; and a third sort with a mere abjuration of all novations introduced since that tyme: therefore it is necessar that the Confession be cleared in the Assembly.
The Commissioner said—I cannot stay now.