| Apud Halyrudhous, 22 Martii 1639.—Sederunt, | ||
|---|---|---|
| Thesaurer, | Justice Genᵃˡˡ, | Treʳ Deput, |
| Mar, | Aduocat, | Justice Clerk. |
| Dumfreis, | ||
The whilk day, the Missive Letter underwritten, signed be the Kings Majestie, and direct to the Lords of Privie Counsell, wes presented to the saids Lords, and read in thair audience, of the whilk the tennor followes:—
Charles R.—Right trusty, &c., We greit you well. We have perceaved by your Letter, wherein yow make mention of that which we expressed in a letter formerlie, of our repairing to Yorke, to be the more neere to that kingdome for accommodating our affaires there in a faire maner; and withall yow expresse your desire how the deplorable estate of that kingdome might be settled without force of armes, or showing of our princelie power. We have shewne our care hitherto by our actions for that effect: nather ar we yitt averse frome continuing in that course. But if, in the meane tyme, anie of our good subjects sall suffer for thair affection to our service, in obedience to our commands, we will be verie sensible thereof, and have a speciall care to see thame fullie repaired. And so, expecting that yow of our Counsell, as yow are honoured by us to be first in place, will stryve to goe before others by your good example in advancing of our service, we bid yow heartilie farewell, from our Court at Whitehall, the 15 of Marche 1639.
Quhilk Missive being heard and considerit be the saids Lords, they ordaine the same to be insert and registrat in the bookes of Privie Counsell.
1639.—March.
7. A Letter by the Lords of the Session to the Kings Majestie, sent with my Lord Justice Clerk, in March 1639.[168]
Most Sacred Soveraigne,
The danger of the tymes wherein we live threatening dreadfull desolation of this our ancient and native kingdome, and the conscience of our humble duetie which we owe to your Majestie, our dear and dread Soveraigne, and to this realme, whereof we are feeling members, honoured be your Majestie to be Counsellours and Judges therein, hes constrained us in this case, so important and pressing, to bemoane to your sacred selfe, the present calamitie and apparent insueing of more. God, who hes established in your sacred persone the just and lawfull right of regall inheritance, hes also filled your Majestie with all other induements necessar to the Royall calling; your Majestie, under God, may sollie allay the terrours of the menassing stormes; and without the sunschine of your graceous and calme countenance, this land, and the inhabitants thereof, must become quicklie miserable. The causes are better knowen to your Majestie then that they neid relation. When your Majestie was pleased to indict a Generall Assembly, we and most parte of all your good subjects of this Kingdome, wer overjoyed in expectation that the doubts in religious worship and Kirk Government, whilk was tossed to and fro this whyle bygone, should have then beine cleirlie setled; and although the greater part of your people be weill pleased with the constitutions therein concluded, yet your Majesties displeasure against that Assembly, and the proceedings thereof, and your expresse dislyke of these who adheres to the same, and the fearfull consequences therefra like to ensue, hes turned all the hopes of comfort which we expected, in sorrowes and teares. When Princes stand in doubt of their people, and their subjects stand in doubt of their Prince, if not tymelie remeaded, prove difficill remeadable. To goe on at ance with deliberation, your Majestie may be pleased to pardon us to averre, that in this they are but badd Counsellours, and no better patriots, who will advise your Majestie to add oyle and fewall to the fire. Violence and armes are pleased amongst desperat remeadies, proving oftner worse then the disease. To speake trueth ingenuouslie becomes all men, and us mainlie more then uthers, speaking to our King, and in a matter importing no lesse nor the universall fall or standing of this nation, and apprehended by most parte of the leidges to reflect on religione and conscience, which seldome are forced with successe. Who does insinuat to your Majestie that the opposers to the proceedings of Glasgow doe surpasse in number, and in uther considerable respects, such as adheres to the same, we veritablie avow, in our alledgance, that they vent unwarrantable suggestions, which may provock the Princes wrath against his people, and does foment meanes for the overthrow of the peace of this Kirk and Kingdome. It is over britle a foundation whereupon to gadge the honour and safetie of your sacred persone, and to build conclusions of warre; and we should not hold ourselves for loyall subjects, if we should not say these informations wer contrare to trueth. Yet your Majestie is knowne to the world to be ane Prince prudent and moderat, who will not be drawen from that laudable forme of raigning which was ever familiar to your Majesties selfe, and to your royall Father of blessed memorie, who worthilie gloried in the title of ane pacifick King; for the throne of Kings (says that wise King) is established by Justice and righteousnes; and therefore we must, on the knies of our hearts, supplicat your sacred Majestie, in the bowels and mercies of our blessed Saveour, to be pleased to forbeare all purpose of warre, and so to prevent the evills of dispaire and necessitie; and for that effect, that your Majestie may be pleased to close your ears against all contrarie enducements. Your Majestie is Vicegerent to Almichtie God, whose mercies and compassions, although immutable, are proponed as characters of imitation to Princes, so far as mortall man may joy therein, and resemble the immortall God.
These our grave and submisse supplications, we begg, in all humilitie, that your Majestie may be pleased graceouslie [to receive], which we have sent to your Majestie by this bearer the Justice-Clerk, who is ane of our number, to whom we have committed our Instructions with trust: And we shall never cease to offer up our fervent prayers to Him by quhom Kings reigne, for preservation of your sacred persone, and the continowing felicitie of your long and happie reigning over us, and thereafter of your royall posteritie, so long as the world shall endure.
The Instructions are—