Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

The Commissioner answered—I shall but represent to your consideration, if God may blesse this meeting with so happie a conclusion—and I thinke there is no Christian but they will think it happie to see King and People goe all one way—that the Kings Commissioner, by the warrand he hath from his Master, sitt here to the end of this meeting, and consent to everie thing shall be done in it; and in the Parliament, to adde the civile sanction unto it. I take it to be granted as all our desires; if, then, we can light upon the way how to make it evident by reason, that these particulars which I have bluntlie and rudelie expressed, our Master hath conceaved, the Moderatour farre better expressed to be the true causes of all our greevances; if, I say, we can light upon such Acts and Constitutions as may serve us in this, I thinke there is no more to be done. I desire and hopes it shall offend none, that I conjure yow, everie one in your stations, Nobles, Peires, and worthies of the land, and yow of the Ministrie—if it be lawful to conjure such a reverend company—to take to heart, that the king will doe all that may secure us of our feares. Only let us be tender of his Majesties honour, and not make unnecessarie breakes, nor marre that thankes that is due to him. Lett us not put him to it in shaddowes, for we shall have the substance.

Argyle said—For the affection and desire of this honourable Assembly, to give his Majestie all satisfaction, your Grace needs not to call in question; and for eschewing any rocke in clearing the Constitutions of the Kirk, lett the clerk be charged upon his fidelitie to his Master, that he read nothing but what is contained in the Acts, and in the Confession of Faith.

The Commissioner urged that all further medling with it might onlie be delayed till 4 a clocke in the afternoone.

Lowdoun said—Delayes are verie unpleasant; and, in suspitious mynds, breeds many jealousies; yet becaus it is ane cause of the meeting of this full and free Assemblie, to give full satisfaction to our Kings Majestie, it seems very reasonable that we take some tyme to agrie upon the best way it may be done, that both his Majestie may be best contented, and in such a way as it derogat nothing from the liberties of the Kirk.

The Commissioner said—The gravitie of this bussines we are about, should not, I thinke, stand upon dayes, farre lesse houres.

It was condescended by the members of the Assembly, that till 4 a clocke in the afternoone should be spent in consultation in the great Kirk among the Commissioners, of the best meanes how the Kings Majestie should get best satisfaction of all their proceedings, and with all the liberties of the Kirk preserved.

The Clerk produced ane of the bookes of the Assembly, which he had gotten from Mr John Rigg, and desired that it might be cognosced upon, whether it wer authentick. The Kings Advocat declaired that he had perused the booke, and knew it to be Grayes hand writt, becaus that same subscription is at divers of his extracts.

To meet at 4 a clocke.

Sess. 5.—At 4 a clocke in the afternoone.
Episcopacie proved unlawfull, with the Service Booke, Booke of Cannons, &c.

After prayer the Moderatour said—Please your Grace, I was useing diligence in searching out wayes how to behave ourselves, and finds all peaceablie and modestlie disposed; and when we had thought upon all mids, we could sie nane, but that way onlie of his Majesties justice and goodnes, which pleaseth his Majestie to walk in. It is knowne that his Majestie refused to authorize our controverted Assembly at Glasgow, neither can we urge the same, seeing his Majestie hes not gotten cleernes, and is not here personallie present to receave satisfaction, we can urge no farther. Againe his Majestie, out of that justice, did not urge his subjects to passe from that Assembly, becaus he knew they were tyed by so many bands; and soe we resolve to walke through betweene thir two rockes as circumspectlie as we can, and not toutching any of them, but keepe our distance betwixt both; and, therefore, I expect that this whole Assembly to walke verie tenderlie in so great a bussines that concernes the great honour of our great and graceous King JESUS, and the tender honour of our good and graceous King Charles.