The Publick Resolutions here meant were not these against which this dispute runs, for these were not then in being, but the Resolutions contained in the Solemne Ingadgment unto Deuties.
2. “The great foreflowing of that so important a busines, the purging of the Kings family notwithstanding the many addresses we have had to your Lo: thereanent, as we desire it to be looked upon as no small guiltines, so we hope and desire that once for all yow will take some effectuall course for purging the Kings family of all scandalous and disaffected persons, and of constituting it of men of knoun integritie and affectione to the cause of God, as also for debaring all Malignants from accesse to the Kings Maj: and to the Court. We doubt not but your Lo: does consider how bad effects the land hes alredie found of such mens influence upon the King, whereof belike we shall find more, and worse if your Lo: faithfulnes and wisdome doe not prevent it. Let the wicked be removed from the King, and his throne shall be established in righteousnes.”
The same day that this Remonstrance was condescended upon, the Comiss: did also pass ane Act suspending all these Malignants in the north, who had risen in arms, from the Communione, till the nixt Gen: Assem: the just copie whereof follows:—
“Pearth, Novemb: 20, 1650.
“The Comis: of the Gen: Assemb: considering the great sin and offence these men are guilty of, who have had accessione to the late Rebellione in yᵉ North; therefore they doe appoint that all these persons that were actually in armes at the late rebellione, and all such as subscribed the Bond and Declaratione emited by them, to be suspended from the Communione till the nixt Gen: Assemb: to which they are hereby refered for further censure; and for all others that had any accessione, by counsel or otherwise, to that rebellione, or to the Kings withdrawing from his Counsell, refers to Presbytries to try diligently, in their severall bounds, these persons and the degree of their guiltines, and to report the same, with the evidences and proofs thereof, to the nixt meeting of this Commissione.”
“A. Ker.”
About the same time the Comiss: were instrumentall to cause yᵉ King and his family, and the whole land, keep a Solemne Publick Humiliatione for the sins of the King and of his fathers house.
[Page 65.]
“The Comissione of the Gen: Assemb: in their Warning at Edʳ, June 25, 1650, when the English army, to their knowledge, were now upon their marche for invading of Scotl: say—
“That these who are tainted with malignancy and disaffectione to the cause of God, should not be allowed or permitted to associate, or joyne themselves together in Armys, much less should we associate or joyne with them, or make use or imploy, or countenance, or permitt them to be in our armies; that we have solemnly ingadged our selves against this, and should be desperatly perverse to hazard upon it; that it were to give great encouradgment to Sectaries, to discouradge the hearts and weaken the hands of men of integrity and godlines, who could hardly expect a blessing in the fellowship of such; that it were from the words of our own former Confessione and ingadgment unto deuties, to proclaim judgment against the land till it were consumed without remedy; that it were a shame for any in this land to be soe faithless and unbeleiving as, becaus of the scarcenes of men, to make use of such.”