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

June 25.—Act for Levy of Horse and Foot for defence.—P. [526].

“Report from the Committee of Conference with the Commissioners of the Kirk.

“27 Junii, 1650.—The Committee appointed for conference with the Commissioners from the Church, thought it meet that some persons should be sent to congratulate his Majesties happy arrivall into this Kingdome, and to shew his Majestie how glad his people were to heare that it has pleased God to move his heart to give satisfaction to their desires, and that it would be very acceptable to them, that, to testify his reality therein, he would likewise forsake and abandon the company of Malignants, and that his domestick servants, and such as are about him, might be well affected to the cause and not malignant, and such as are otherwise, be removed and put from about him, but in a fair and discreet way.

“And having considered the list of his Majesties servants and others of the train, so farr as it come to their knowledge, the Committee aforesaid thought it fitt and necessary that the persons after following, viz., The Duke of Hamilton, [formerly Lord Lanerick,] the Duke of Buckingham, the Earle Forth, Lauderdale, Sir Robert Dalzell, L. Sinclair, Doctor Frazer, L. Wilmott, L. Wentworth, Secretary Long, Mr Uder, Earle of Cleveland, Mr Seymor, Viscount Grandison, Mr Progers, L. Withrington, Mr Rogers, Sir Philip Musgrave, Col. Darsy, Col. Gray, Col. Boynton, Major Jackson, Dr Goff, Mr Harding, corrupt chaplaines, and Sir Edward Walker, should forthwith remove themselves and depart out of the kingdome; and such also as have served in armes against the Cause, and been evill instruments and given bad counsell to his Majesties late father and himselfe, and likewise such others as upon information from our Commissioners shall be thought fitt to be removed.” This suggestion approved of on 28 of June.—P. 530. All other Scotchmen “not specifyed” in the Act to be removed out of the Kingdom, and the English to leave the country within eight days, otherwise their persons to be seized and disposed of as the Estates think fit; “and that in the meane tyme they remove themselves from the verge of the Court, and not be permitted to have accesse to his Majestie.”—P. [531].

July 3.—Commitee of Conference report that all the fencible men formerly ordered be in readiness to march upon sight of the beacons, “under the highest and strictest punishment that can be exprest, death, infamy, losse of all their moveables, and forfaultor of the third part of their estates; and as to the bordering shires, and other shires where the actuall invasion shall be, upon the said invasion, and upon sight of the beacons, the whole persons to rise in armes and draw together to the standing forces of the Kingdome as they shall have advertisement by beacons or orders.”—P. [532].

July 3.—An Act for putting the Kingdom in a posture of Defence, &c. “Considering the great preparations made by the Sectaries in England to invade this Kingdom, to destroy the Religion, Lawes, and Liberties thereof,” &c., declares “all fencible persons betwixt 60 and 16 are bound to rise in arms to defend the King and Kingdome from Invasions”—and appoints them to rendezvous in every shire.—P. [532].

July 4.—Act ratifying Treaty betwixt King and Commissioners—Instructions to Commissioners to go to the King—The Duke of Buckingham and 7 others, English, allowed to remain in Scotland till next Session of Parliament, but not to come within verge of the Court, or have access to his Majesty. P. [535].

July 5. Parliament continued to 15 of August.—P. [540].

Nov. 26.—The parliament met at Perth—the King present.

Nov. 27.—“The Kings Majestie, and Estattes of Parliament, earnestlie desyres the Comissioners of the Generall Assemblie to remayne heir for sum tyme, that thay may haue their advyce in sum particulars to be comunicat to thame. And that they may haue this day or the morrow a conference with thame thairanent; wᶜʰᵉ wes communicat to thame by the L. Burghley, the Laird of Duffus, and Hew Kennedy.”—P. [541]. “The subject of yᵉ Conference to be anent the causes and tyme of the Fast, and anent the ceremonyes of the Coronatione, anent ministers to the kingis familie, and anent the reasones, pro and contra, quhy men should be admitted or excludit from joyneing with the armie, or acting a part againes the comon enemy.”—P. [542].