2. Secondlie, According to this divine right, the Church of Scotland hath kept her Generall Assemblies with a blessing from heaven; for whill our Assemblie hath continowed in their strenth, in the doctrine, in the worship and discipline, the unitie and peace of the Church continowed in vigour, pietie and learning wer advanced, and profanenes and idlenes wer censured.
3. The Church of Scotland hath declaired, that all ecclesiasticall Assemblies hath power to conveene lawfullie for treating of things concerning the Church and pertaining to their charge, and to appoynt tymes and places for that effect.
4. The liberties of this Church for holding Assemblies is acknowledged by Parliament, and ratified anno 1593 1592 and that upon the ground of perpetuall reason.
5. Becaus there is no ground, either by Act of Assembly or Parliament, or any preceding practice, neither in the Christian Church of old, nor yet in our owne Church since the Reformation, whereby the Kings Majestie may dissolve the Generall Assembly, or assume unto himselfe a negative voice; but, upon the contrare, his Majesties prerogative hes [is] declared by Act of Parliament to be no wayes prejudiciall to the priviledges and liberties which God hath granted to the spirituall office-bearers of his Church, which are most frequentlie ratified in Parliament, and especiallie in the last Parliament holden by his Majestie.
6. By this meanes, the whole frame of religion and Church Jurisdiction shall depend absolutelie upon the pleasure of the Prince; whereas his Majestie hath publictlie declared, by publict proclamation in England, that the Jurisdiction of the Churchmen, in their meetings and Courts holden by them, doe not flow from his Majesties auctoritie, notwithstanding any Act of Parliaments which hath beene made to the contrare, but from themselves, in their owne power; and that they hold their courts and meeting in their oune name.
7. That whereas His Majestie, upon the 12 of June, receaved a paper of the schort generall grounds and limits of their humble desires, his Majestie was graceouslie pleased to make this answer, viz., that if their desires be only the enjoying of religion and liberties, according to the ecclesiasticall and civill lawes of his Majesties Kingdome of Scotland, his Majestie doth not onlie agrie to the same, but shall also protect them to the uttermost of his power; and if they shall not insist upon any thing but that which is warranted, his Majestie most willinglie and readdilie [will] condiscend thereto; so that, in the mean tyme, they pay unto him that civill and temporall obedience which can be justlie required and expected of Loyall Subjects.
1639.—June 18.
55. Declaration by the King, and Terms of the Treaty.[217]
Charles R.
We having considered the Papers and humble Petitions presented to Us, by those of Our Subjects of Scotland who were admitted to attend Our Pleasure in the Camp, and after a full hearing by Our Self, of all that they could say or alledge thereupon, having communicated the same to Our Council of both Kingdoms, upon mature Deliberation, with their unanimous Advice, have thought fit to give them this Just and Gracious Answer; That though We cannot condescend to ratifie and approve the Acts of the pretended General Assembly at Glasgow, for many grave and weighty Considerations which have happened, both before and since, much importing the Honour and Securitie of that true Monarchical Government lineally descended upon Us from so many of Our Ancestours; yet such is Our Gracious Pleasure, that, notwithstanding the many Disorders committed of late, We are pleased not only to confirm and make good whatsoever Our Commissioner hath granted and promised in Our Name; but also, We are further Graciously pleased to declare and assure, that, according to the Petitioners humble Desires, all matters Ecclesiastical shall be determined by the Assembly of the Kirk, and matters Civil by the Parliament, and other inferiour Judicatories established by Law; and Assemblies, accordingly, shall be kept once a year, or as shall be agreed upon at the next General Assembly.