Whereas the Subjects of our Kingdoms of Scotland, have humbly supplicated that we may be graceouslie pleased to appoynt some of this our kingdome to heare, by such as shall be sent from them, their humble desires, and to make knowne to them our grave pleasure; unto which Supplication we condiscend so farre as to admitt some of them to repaire to our campe, upon Munday, at 8 of the clock in the morning; and, becaus they may apprehend danger in their comeing abroad, or returning, we doe offer them, upon the word of a Prince, that the persones sent from them shall be safe and free from all trouble and restraint, whereof these shall be a sufficient warrant.
We trust His Majestie will favourablie construct this our humble requyreing of a safe conduct, since, when our confidence is in his graceous Majestie, we desire no further but assurance under his royall hand—albeit, by statuts of England which were before cited to my Lord Dalyell—all assurance and conducts are declaired to be null, if they have not passed the Great Seale of England.
The Proclamations published throughout the paroche churches of England, and these later sent to be published in Scotland, declairing us His Majesties subjects to be Rebellis, and our proceedings to be treacherous, forefeiting our estates, and threatening to destroy us, lay a necessitie upon us who desire to cleare ourselres, to crave a safe contact to his Majestie.
The former refusall of a safe conduct to His Majesties Councell and Session; when they craved libertie to goe up and informe His Majestie of the true estate of our bussinesse, and to ourselves, when we desired libertie to cleare out proceedings and intentions to His Majestie, showes the greater necessitie of our craving the same for to give a full and free information of our affaires.
This refusing of a safe conduct being knowne to the Army, makes them more unwilling then before, that any should goe there.
Hereupon the former warrant of a safe conduct, subscryved be John Cook, was alse subscryved be the King.
1639.—June 8.
54. The Humble Desires of His Majesties Subjects of Scotland, at the first going of the Scotts Commissioners.[216]
1. First, It is our humble desire that His Majestie would be graceouslie pleased to assure us that the Acts of the late Assembly at Glasgow, indicted by His Majestie, shall be ratified in the ensuing Parliament, to be holden at Edinburgh the 23 of Julii, since the peace of the Kirk and Kingdome cannot indure farther prorogation.