1639.—July 1.
58. Proclamation of the Assemblie to be held in August.[221]
Apud Halyrudhous, primo Julii 1639.
Sederunt, &c.
Forsameikle as the Kings most Sacred Majestie, by his Graceous proclamation lately published, of the date the 16 of Junii last, hes beene pleased, out of his pious and religious disposition to the trew religion, and out of his fatherlie care for removeing all feareis and doubtis whilks may arryse in the myndis of his subjectis, and upon diverse great and weightie considerations importing the glorie of God, the peace of the Kirk, and commonweele of the Kingdome, to appoynt and give order that a Generall Assemblie be indicted, kept, and haldin in the Citie of Edinburgh upon the twelff of August next to come, with continowation of dayes: Therefore the Lordes of Secreit Counsel, according to his Majesties warrand and direction given to thame in writt, ordains Letters to be direct, chargeing his Majesties Herauldes to pass and make publication heirof be opin proclamation at the Mercate Croce of Edinburgh, and other places needfull, and to warne all and sundrie Archbishops, Bishops, Commissioners of Kirks, and others having place and voice in the Assemblie, to repaire and addresse themselves to the said Citie of Edinburgh the said twelff day of August nixt to come, and to attend the said Assemblie dureing the tyme thereof, and ay and whil the same be dissolved, and to doe and performe all whilk to thair charge, in sic caises apperteanes, as they will answer in the contrare at their perrel.
Followes his Majesties Missive for warrand of the Act abouewritten.
Charles R.—Right trustie, &c. Having, by our Declaration of the date of the 18ᵗʰ of this moneth, signified our pleasure for holding a Generall Assemblie at Edʳ, where we intend to be (God willing) present in person: It is our pleasure that yow meit the said Assemblie, to be halden the twelff day of August nixt in the place aforesaid—causeing warne to that purpose all Archbishops, Bishops, Commissioners of Kirks, and others haveing place and voice in the Assemblie, according to the proclamation made for the indiction of the late pretendit Generall Assemblie at Glasgow, for which these presents sal be your warrand. Wee bid yow fareweille. from our Court at Berwick, the 29ᵗʰ of June 1639.
1639.—July 1.
59. A Protestation at tht Mercat Croce of Edinburgh, 1 of Julii 1639.[222]
We Noblemen, Barons, Burrowes, Ministers, his Majesties most humble duetifull Subjects, who hes beene his Majesties Supplicants this tyme past, doe, in all humilitie acknowledge, and with most heartie affection receave, that his Majesties most gracious and royall favour, in calling againe a free Assembly and Parliament for the finall settling of this Kirk and Kingdome in a firme Peace, so happily begune, which we earnestlie desire that may be perfyted; desireing also, as becometh his Majesties good Subjects, to joyne in our most earnest endeavours with his Sacred Majestie for the preservation of the liberties and Constitutions of the Kirk in this his Majesties Kingdome, against the Usurpatione who have proven enemies to religion, to his Majesties honour, and which may import the violation of the oath of God which tyeth us to mentaine the lawfull Assembly holden at Glasgow, wherein it was found, by the Constitutions of this Kirk, that the office of Bishops and Archbishops [who] are now cited to assist (by his Majesties indiction) the ensuing Assemblie; and the Government of the Kirk by them, is abjured and ought to be removed out of this Kirk, and by the publict auctoritie thereof, they themselves is, for their high usurpations, their novations in the worship of God, and uther haynous crymes, joyned with their obstinacie in stopting their eares against the voice of the Kirk, and declyning hir auctoritie, were most solemnlie excommunicat therefor. Least this forme of indiction should interfere against us, the smallest acknowledgement of that pretendit office or government, or any right in the presones to sitt or voice in the Assemblies of the Kirk or derogation to the Sentence of the Kirk, pronounced against them, or to the former protestations made by us; or least it should import the least prejudice to the said full, lawfull, and frie Generall Assembly, which his Majestie, by his Royall word, and holden by us most sure and inviolable, did openly declair to our Commissioners that he would not bidd us disapprove, or pass fra; and was graciouslie pleased, at their humble desires, to cause delait such clauses of his Majesties Declaration as might inferre the acknowledgement of Bishops to their Government: WE, therefore, in our own names, and in name of all who adheres to the Covenant and Generall Assembly, Declair, before God and Man, and Protest—
1. That we adhere, and stand oblidged by our former oathes and protestations, to mentaine the late Generall Assembly holden at Glasgow, being undoubtedlie ane most lawfull and free Generall Assemblie; and that all Acts, Sentences, Constitutions, Censures and Proceedings of a full and free Generall Assembly of this Kirk of Scotland, and so have alreadie [had] execution under the ecclesiasticall paines therein mentioned, and conforme thereto in all poynts; and in speciall these sentences of deprivation and excommunication of the some tyme pretended Bishops and Archbishops of this Kingdome.