Miscellaneous Historical Documents.
RELATIVE TO THE ECCLESIASTICAL AND POLITICAL EVENTS IN SCOTLAND—1639-40.
1639.—September 11.
1. Discussion in Parliament as to the Large Declaration.[246]
Undecimo Septemb. 1639.
Anent the Supplication presented by the Assembly against the booke called the Large Declaratioune, whairof Doctor Balcanquhall is challenged to be ane of the authors: The Commissioner represented that it is not expedient that this Supplicatioune be presented in ane parliamentarie way; becaus it tendis to the renewing of the remembrance of these troubles and the causes thereof, which heirtofoir vexed this Kingdome, and ar now to be buried in oblivioune; and seing the said booke beirs inscriptione of His Sacred Majesties name, quhilk he will not disclaime, it aught to be handled with more reverence then to be challenged in any publick way, quhilk evidentlie rubbis with His Majesties honour, and can produce no better effect than ane answer to all assertiounes contrair to what is averred in the booke, and will frustrate the Petitioners of their intendit end. And, therefore, the Commissioners Grace desyred, that gif the Petitioners will goe on in this Supplicatione, they shall doe the same in that quiet, humble way, which may not trench upon His Majestie, bot will most readilie satisfie His Majestie, quhilk ought to be their first and maine desyre.
The Erles of Argyle and Rothes answered—That the said booke containes so many vntrewthis, that is so dishonourable to His Majestie and this haill natioune, and is so publick and dispersed through all the world, of purpose to incense neighbour nationes, and speciallie Ingland, against us, and to possess thaime with prejudices against thair proceidings; and, therefore, the Petitione aught to be presented in ane publik parliamentarie way, quhilk being legall and humble, cannot in reasone offend His Graceous Majestie.
The Commissioners Grace answered—That the publik way will rather oblige His Majestie to vindicate his honour by ane answer of mainteining that booke then procure any satisfaction from his Majestie; becaus the King must ather mainteane that booke, gif it be challenged by ane publik way, or else acknowledge that he took armes upon unwarrantable grounds and false information, quhilk is so dishonourable, that no good subject can desyre or expect the same—and now, at this tyme, it is unfitt to renew the memorie of what is past upon ather side, but they are to be covered with ane act of oblivione.
The Estatis of Parliament being petitioned by the Assemblie to joyne with thame in supplicating His Majestie against ane booke intituled A Large Declaration, (which Supplicatione is registrat in the buikes of the Assemblie,) the Estatis humblie recommendis the same to the Commissioners Grace to be presented to his Majestie for obtaining graceouslie the desyre of the said Supplicatione; and ordainis this to be inacted in Parliament, in thir same words, and in no other wayis.
1639 40.—January 29.
2. Letter from the Earl of Rothes to the Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery.[247]
My Good Lord,