2. We Protest that we doe still continuwallie adhere to our Solemne Covenant with God, according to the Declaration of the Assembly, whereby the office of Bishops and Archbishops is declaired to have beene abjured.
3. We Protest that these pretended Bishops and Archbishops who yet usurpes that title and office, abjured by this kirk, are contemners of the sentences of this Kirk, and hes beine malicious incendearies of his Majestie against this kingdome by their wicked calumnies, that if they returne to this kingdome, they be esteemed and used, accursed and delivered over to the Divell, and cutt off from Christs bodie as ethinicks and publicans; and that this present citation import no acknowledgement of them as Members of the Assembly, nor any wayes prejudge the lawfull Acts of the said free Generall Assembly.
4. We Protest that all misinformations of the Kings Majestie against his good subjects, and all givers of counsell against the will of the realme, be accuseable and censurable at the next Parliament, according to our former protestations, according to the Act of Parliament King James 4, there mentioned; and that all the subjects of this Kingdome, entertainers and mentainers of excommunicat persons, be orderlie proceeded against with excommunication, conforme to the Acts and Constitutions of this Kirk.
And seeing the Session is now appoynted to sitt doune which tendeth to the prejudice of his Majesties good subjects, and who hath beene so latelie busied in the preparations for the defence of the religion and countrie, that they are now necessarlie reteired to their owne dwellings for settleing their privat effaires, that they cannot be tymouslie advertised to attend any lawfull bussines without greater prejudice than benefite, and that the most parte of the leidges have so secured their evidents that the same cannot be in readines in so short tyme of Session; Therefore, and in respect the downe sitting of the Session cannot be utherwayes legallie intimat to them but upon 40 dayes, whereof there are but 20 dayes to run of the appoynted tyme of this meeting, We protest that all the Members of the Colledge of Justice and all his Majesties Leidges are in bona fide not to attend this Session; but that all Acts, Sentences, Decreits, and Interloquitours to be given and pronounced against them, (if any shall be), are in the selfe null and ineffectuall, sicklyke as the same had not beene given nor pronounced; and protests for remead of law against the same and everie ane of them.
Lastlie, we Protest that we may have libertie to amplifie and enlarge this our Protestation, and reasons thereof; whereupon the Earle of Dalhoussie in name of the Noblemen, Sir Wᵐ Ross in name of the Burrows, Mr Andrew Ramsay in name of the Ministers, took Instruments in the hands of the Notars present in the Croce of Edinburgh.
1639.—July 5.
60. Advice by Hamilton to the King.[223]
To leave all that is past, the Question is briefly; Whether the Assembly and Parliament now indicted is fittest to be held or discharged?
If held, the Success of the Assembly will be the Ratifying of what was done at Glasgow; or if that point be gained, yet certainly most of the Acts that were made there will of new [be] enacted: nor is there any hope to prevent their finding Episcopacy to be abjured by their Covenant, and the Function against the Constitution of their Church.
This will be by the Members of Parliament ratified, and put to the Kings Nagative Voice, and if it be not condescended to by him, it is more than probable, that his Power even in that Court, and in that Place, will be questioned.