Charles had determined to start on the 10th of August, and therefore, having passed certain bills on Saturday, the 7th, he then bid his Parliament farewell. The House of Commons greatly disliked this expedition. On the same day they requested the Lords to join them in petitioning his Majesty to delay his departure at least a fortnight longer. Only a strong reason could have induced Puritans to meet for business on the following day, being Sunday, but they did so meet. On that summer morning the members went down to Westminster, first to worship at St. Margaret's, and then to debate at St. Stephen's. But before entering on political affairs they were careful to guard against this Sunday sitting being drawn into a precedent. Often likened to the Pharisees for rigid formalism, these men, on this occasion, really shewed that—with their devout reverence for the holy season—they had caught the spirit of Him who said, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Their attempt—on a day they so much loved to honour by religious exercises—at staying the King's journey northward, showed how much mischief they apprehended from that visit. But their effort did not succeed. On Tuesday, the 10th, Charles came to the House of Lords, and sending for the Commons, gave his assent to the Scotch Treaty and to certain Bills; after which he again took leave of the Houses, and started for Edinburgh, at two o'clock in the afternoon, accompanied by the Elector Palatine and the Duke of Lennox. On the 18th the Commons despatched commissioners to watch the ratification of the treaty, and "keep up a good correspondence between the two kingdoms." Mr. Hume calls them spies; their public appointment and legal credentials refute that representation; yet it cannot be a question that their intended business was to keep a sharp eye on his Majesty's proceedings, and to thwart any sinister design of his which they might be able to discover.
Royal Visit to Scotland.
By the help of certain letters from Sidney Bere—afterwards Under Secretary of State, who formed one of the royal suite during this Scotch visit—we are able to follow the King into some of the religious and social scenes of the northern capital, which the courtier watched with much curiosity, and in his own fashion thus describes:—
"The chaplains' places are supplied by Mr. Henderson and another, who say grace, but I cannot say read prayers, they being likewise extemporary, one in the beginning, then a chapter or two, after that another prayer, then a psalm, and so the benediction. This is in the Chamber of Presence at the usual hours; the sermons have been hitherto in the parish church, though the chapel here be fitted up, but after their fashion, without altar or organs."[211]
"His Majesty is neither wanting in pains nor affection, going every morning to their Parliament, and this Sunday was in two of their churches, and daily takes the prayer and preachings according to their form, which gains much on the people. In a word, his Majesty is wholly disposed to settle both Church and State before he leaves this place."[212]
1641, August.
"I will only add a relation of a feast, made by this town unto the King and the Lords in the Great Hall of the Parliament this day, August 30th. The King and the Prince Elector sat at one table, the Lords at another, but both in one room. The Duke of Richmond on one side, General Leslie over against, and next him the Marquis Hamilton, who gives him the place ordinarily, in respect, (I take it), that his commission of General is not yet delivered up. The mayor of the town, like a plain Dutch host, bestirred himself bravely, drank a health to the King, to the Queen, and the royal Children, and afterwards insisted with his Majesty to pledge; and so, in this Scotch familiar way, but with a great deal of familiarity, bid the King and the Lords welcome, with such hearty expressions as it served both for mirth and satisfaction. The glasses went liberally about, and the entertainment was great; indeed, over the whole town there was nothing but joy and revelling, like a day of jubilee; and this in token of the union, which, doubtless, is more firm than ever, by reason of the happy intervention of the unity of form of religion, at least for the present; and in the King's own practice, which wins much upon this people. Yesterday his Majesty was again at the great church at sermon, where the bishops were not spared, but put down in such language as would a year ago have been at the least a Star Chamber business, imputing still all that was amiss to ill counsellors, and so ingratiated his Majesty with his people, who indeed show a zeal and affection beyond all expression."[213]
Royal Visit to Scotland.
While reading these extracts we cannot help noticing that the services in Edinburgh, attended by the Anglo-Catholic King, in 1641, were as different as possible from the ceremonial exhibitions arranged for Holyrood in 1633, by an Anglo-Catholic bishop, when the musical servants, with their chapel goods and paraphernalia were despatched by the Dreadnought for the Firth of Forth.[214] Experience since then had taught some little wisdom in such matters. Defiance having failed, conciliation was now attempted, and it would seem that the whole political bearing of Charles whilst in Scotland was in keeping with his social and religious conduct at that time. He ratified the Acts of June, 1640, by which Presbyterianism had become the established religion of the country; he bestowed fresh titles and dignities on certain noblemen who had opposed him at the council table, and arrayed themselves against him in the field; and he consented to the partition of ecclesiastical revenues amongst Presbyterian claimants, when, as it was said, "leading men, cities, and universities cast lots for the garments which had clothed the Episcopal establishment." Such was the conduct of the Sovereign on the whole, that he alarmed his friends and encouraged his foes; some on both sides concluding that he meant to establish Presbyterianism throughout his dominions; but of that idea, however, he took care to disabuse "his servants," assuring them of his remaining "constant to the discipline and doctrine of the Church of England established by Queen Elizabeth and his father," and his resolution "by the grace of God to die in the maintenance of it."[215]
1641, September.