Declaration Concerning the Late Tumults in Scotland, Floating text 9 – Floating text 10
FIrst, for observing union, it is thought fit, that no answer be made to any of the Statesmen or others, having Commission from the King, concerning the publike businesse, but with common consent and advice according to the Articles of our Covenant against divisive motions; and if any propound motions tending to the breach of our union; it would be told them plainely, wee will repute them as unfriends both to us and our cause.
Secondly, for the better method in preparing and holding of matters to be treated of, it is thought fit that there be a Committee chosen, and that some of the Gentrie, Burrowes, and Ministers be present at the meetings with the Noblemen.
Thirdly, It is thought fit, that all who are interessed may attend punctually to Dyets and meetings, with the rest of the number appointed for the good of the publike businesse; and, lest our adversaries should (upon the frequent attending of the prime Noblemen and Statesmen) take occasion to affirme, that they have power to dispose of their friends in this cause, their attendance would be the more shunned, to shew we will depend upon no man who is of an averse judgement, or who are about a contrarie imployment in the matter of our Covenant and conscience.
Fourthly, if there bee any new Proclamation, it is thought fit that it may be obviat and reincountred with a new Protestation, which would be condiscended upon, and would conteine our eight last Articles; And that our Protestation may bee backed with good information and reasons, and sent with diligence to the Commissioners to the severall parts of the Kingdome, that they be not deceived nor surprised with Proclamations or suggestions, and that the copie of the Protestation may be given to the Commissioners of Shires and Burghes, to meet the Proclamation in all points needfull.
Fifthly, if the discharge of the Book of Service, and Canons, and limitation of the High Commission be granted; and that upon the Statesmen and Commissioners offer, the King will grant all we can crave which is not repugnant to Law, and alleadge that Episcopall power and Articles of Pearths Assemblie are established by Law; It is answered that the abuses of Episcopall government are contrarie to Law, and censurable by Law, and the Articles of Pearth should bee rightly interpreted, and our desires for the free and yearely exercise of Generall Assemblies, free admission of Ministers without unlawfull Oaths, and rectifying of the Articles of Pearths Assemblie, and that the Prelates boundlesse usurped power, limited according to the caveats of their admission, are all agreeable to Law for the reasons conteined in the Articles: And if the Bishops, Statesmen, and others be of a different judgement from the most part of the Church and Kingdome, the Generall Assemblie and Parliament (who were the Law-makers,) are onelyonly competent Judges for interpreting their owne Acts, whose direction we crave: And although the Law were interpreted as they alleadge, which is altogether untrue, and contrarie to the grounds and meaning of the Law, yet the bodie of the Kingdome, for whose good the Law was made, may crave the lawfull redresse of the grievances sustained by that Law, and our complaints, supplications, and protestations against the Bishops, depending in processe for clearing the subjects loyaltie, and repairing the wrong complained of, cannot bee otherwise lawfully decided, cannot remedie the present evils, nor prevent the like or worse evils in time comming.
Sixthly, it is thought fit, that all who have subscribed the Covenant, be made sensible that they are obliged by their Oath, not to rest satisfied with lesse then the desire of our Articles, which are agreeable to law, conscience, and reason, and without which we will be frustrated of our ends, our adversaries in time will obtaine the establishment of the evils we complaine of.
Seventhly, it is thought fit, that the number of the Commissioners be doubled, against the Statesmen and Marquesse down comming, and that all be warned to be readie upon advertisement.
Eighthly, that the report of the subscriptions of the Covenant may bee sent to Edinburgh from all severall parts of the Kingdome.
Ninthly, that things recommended to our former Committee be adverted to, with the best diligence that can be.
Tenthly, it is thought expedient that all the time of the generall meeting there be a Fast.
OUr Commissioner upon his way to that Kingdom, did meet with advertisements of these strange fears, which the ringleaders of the Covenant (who were affraid of nothing more then that our subjects should receive satisfactiō from Us by Our Commissioner) had possessed Our people with, & the bad entertainment he was like to receive at his comming thither, acquainted Us therewith, but went forward on his journy until he came to Barwick, from whence he sent to his especiall friends and kindred, and to all such Gentlemen of his owne name, and others, as were his Vassals and Tenants, and hold their lands from him by service and attendance on him when he shall require it, hee received answer that all these Obligations were quite discharged by the Covenanters Table at Edinburgh, who had absolutely commanded that none, who had subscribed their Covenant, should go to meet, or give any personall attendance upon Our Commissioner, untill such time as they should have leave from their Table so to do; and so Our Commissioner went from Barwick unattended by these Noblemen, or by any other of his owne kindred or vassals, unlesse such as had not subscribed their Covenant, (except some few, whose affection exceeded the command of the Tables); an affront before that time never offered to any person of his qualitie in that Kingdome: Yet hee was verie nobly and honourably received, and conducted to Dalkeith by all Our Councell, most of the Lords of the Session, who are the Judges of the Law, great troups of the Nobilitie and Gentrie, who had not subscribed their Covenant.
Now, the reasons why their Table had laid this strict charge, of not conducting Our Commissioner, upon all their adherents, were these two, as appeared plainely by the speeches uttered by many of the Covenanters themselves: First, that they might not seeme to shew the least respect to any, especially to those of greater rank, who were disaffected to their Covenant, as was ordered in the third Article of their ten last mentioned: Secondly, that they might make triall of their power with their owne partie, the heads of the Covenant being perswaded, that if they could prevaile with their associates for breaking through the bonds of nature, bloud, consanguinitie, civilitie, vassalledge and dependance, in pursuance of their Orders, they should not much need to feare that any other obligations could be able to divert them from obedience to their dictats.
Our Commissioner, immediately upon his comming to Dalkeith, (where the Councell assembled for safetie, because the combustions at Edinburgh increased daily) met with many discouragements and difficulties. First, We had sent some small proportion of Armes, and powder to be put into Our Castle of Edinburgh, justly doubting the surprisall of it by the Covenanters, who were there assembled in great multitudes, and had of late made great provision of Armes there. No sooner had the ship (in which these Armes with other goods were) cast Anchor in Leith rode, but the Covenanters sent for the Merchant owner of the goods, commanding him to bring the ship into the Harbour, and discharging him from unloading any thing in the ship, especially Armes, untill hee had leave from them, as hee would answer the contrarie at his perill; of which Our Lord Treasurer being advertised, provided that night a Boat which landed the Armes and powder, and Carts which presently carried them to Our Palace at Dalkeith, some foure miles distant: How for this the Merchant was used by them, and how they did threaten to come by force and carrie away that provision out of Our own house of Dalkeith, is notoriously known. Much about this time Our Commissioner came to Dalkeith, where he was received for his first welcome with the certaine newes of the increase of the peoples rage in Edinburgh, of the Covenanters resolution first to take the Castle, but (upon better advice) of their deserting that purpose, yet falling upon that which was bad enough; for they had begirt the Castle with strong guards, so that no person nor provision could passe to or from it, but by their permission: Besides, they had entred into consultation, whether they should by force take out of Our Palace of Dalkeith that small provision of Armes and powder which was lately carried thither: which counsell they were perswaded by some not to follow, because of the residence of Our Commissioner there at that time; but one thing they resolved upon, that during the abode of Our Commissioner and Councell there, though but foure miles distant from Edinburgh, they would take no notice of them, send no Petition to them: and howsoever they allowed some of Our Commissioners particular kinsmen and acquaintance to go thither and visit him, yet they would not depute any to speak with him of the businesse for which hee was sent, or of their complaints and grievances, but resolved not to leave Edinburgh, where they were well enough, so that if hee had any thing to deliver to them, hee might come thither, for to him and Our Councell they would not come: And that they might have some colourable pretence with the people for this their insolent behaviour and resolution, it was cast out and rumoured abroad, that if they went to Dalkeith, there was an intention to blow them up with Gun-powder; not that the Authors of that foule and divelish aspersion entertained the least thought of any such feare, but that they might both have a colour for their unmannerly not addressing themselves thither, as also beget in the minds of their ignorant followers a higher indignation against, and jealousie of Our Commissioner and Councell for such a wicked and treacherous plot.
Now, at this verie time when they made all this stirre about that small provision of Armes for Our Castle, which exceeded not two hundred Muskets, and so many Pikes, with some small quantitie of Powder, the Covenanters had two good Ships come home loaded with Armes and Amunition, which they landed openly and avowedly.
All these difficulties and new troubles, augmented daily of purpose since their notice of Our Commissioners journey, put him and Our Councell to such a stand, as they knew not well what resolution to take. The Covenanters force and rage increased, which they had not power in any proportion to discharge; they could not discover in them the least inclination to peace; they found they would not so much as addresse themselves towards them, and they did not hold it agreeable with Our honour, or the dignitie of those places which they held under Us, nor yet for their safetie, to go to them; At last this meanes was thought on, no doubt by the advice of those of their Table, who scorned to seeme to yeeld or petition for any such thing themselves.
The Citizens of Edinburgh sent certain Commissioners to Our High Commissioner with a supplicatiō ▪ that he would bee pleased to repaire to Our Palace at Haly-rud-house, where they might more conveniently give demonstration of their affection to his Majesties service, in attending his Graces directions. Our Commissioner after he had acquainted and advised Our Councell with this their supplication, by their advice, as willing to take any occasion to enter into the businesse for which Wee sent him, returned this answer to the Commissioners of Edinburgh, That if they would undertake to be Masters and Governours of their owne citie, that their citizens would behave themselves as good and dutifull subjects, and take order that the multitudes, now present in their citie, who called themselves Covenanters, should do so too, and that the Guards about Our castle of Edinburgh should be dismissed and discharged, he would within a day or two repaire to Our Palace at Haly-rud-house, otherwise not: For that hee did hold it not agreeable to Our honour, that he Our Commissioner and Councell should reside at Our said palace, which is scituated at the one end of the citie, when Our castle seated at the other end of the same should be blocked up with guards: All which, these Commissioners undertooke to performe, and by their words desired to approve themselves most loyall subjects, hoping to cleare themselves from many aspersions laid upon them, when his Grace would be pleased to heare and examine their proceedings.
Hereupon Our High Commissioner, according to his promise, did remove himselfe from Dalkeith to Our palace at Haly-rud-house, attended by all Our Councell, such of Our Nobilitie, Gentrie, and others, as were affected to Our service, which consisted of a great number: Some two or three miles from Edinburgh he was met with the whole bodie of the Nobilitie and Gentrie of Covenanters, then resident at Edinburgh, who were all mounted on horse-back, and consisted of divers thousands; and besides, in a nearer distance from Edinburgh, by the Ministers then resident there, who were all on foot, and consisted of manie hundreds; and so all the way to Our palace was filled with swarmes of people of all sorts and sexes, many of whose exclamations and outcries were very sharpe and bitter, stuffed with cursings of Poperie and Bishops; by which it was apparent that the multitude had been made beleeve that these two were one and the same thing. Our Commissioner when he first met on the way the Lords who call themselves Covenanters, was entreated by them to heare a speech delivered, as he should passe along, by a Minister in the name of the rest: But he, remembring the advertisements which he had received of their most seditious Sermons, and knowing by the same advertisements that he who was to deliver this speech was a deprived Minister, and one of the most seditious in the whole packe, returned answer to the Lords that he would not heare it, justly doubting that it might be stuffed as full of passages against Our authoritie as their Sermons used to be; and so that speech was omitted: Now, whether these great troups of Covenanters, both of horse and foot, in a great bodie by themselves, which did not joine at the first with that companie which attended Our Commissioner from Dalkeith, but stayed for him on the way in a farre grosser bodie by themselves, was assembled to doe honour to Our Commissioner, or for shewing their owne power and strength, by way of comparison with the companie whom they met, which they farre exceeded, Wee will not determine. But thus Our Commissioner was conducted to Our Palace of Holy-rood-house, where he was received by the Lord Provost, Bailiffes, Magistrates and citizens of Edinburgh with outward demonstrations of being welcome. And this was all the entertainment which at any time he had from the body of the Covenanters, during the time of his abode in that Kingdome; which whether it were hearty and sincere, or but onelyonly in show, and to shew their owne power, Wee leave it to be judged by the entertainment and respect which afterward he received from them; which will be found to bee just none at all: For during the time of his continuance amongst them, though he found that they gave civill respects to him as Marquesse of Hamiltoun, yet his being cloathed with Our authoritie and commission did much diminish them, as shall appeare now in the next place, by those perpetuall affronts which they ceased not to offer daily to him and Our Councell, in all their proceedings concerning the businesse for which he was sent.
Our Commissioner now being settled at Our palace, with the assistance of Our Councell, hee fell presently upon the maine businesse with the Covenanters, whom hee desired to dismisse their great multitudes; which they did, being indeed necessitated thereunto for the ease of their great charge. The two maine Propositions which hee offered to their consideration, were these: First, what they should expect from him in Our name for satisfaction to their complaints, and accommodating their grievances: Next, what might be expected from them for returning to their former obedience, especially in renouncing and delivering up their late Covenant. Both which propositions they did receive with so much sleighting and contempt, as that they avowed, no satisfaction from Us should be accepted which contained any particulars; but that they expected, first, a Generall Assembly of the Church, and then a Parliament, that in these two Judicatories they would represent and discusse their grievances: And no wonder, for in both these they knew that themselves were to be both Judges and parties. For the second, they answered, that they could not returne to their former obedience, from which they would never acknowledge that they had departed in the least degree, having done no act but that which became good and dutifull subjects: And for their Covenant, that they would rather renounce their Baptisme then renounce it, or abate one word or syllable of the literall rigour of it; it being more availeable and usefull unto them, then all the Lawes and Acts of Parliament which had beene enacted in that Kingdome since the time of Fergus the first King thereof: And that it was a proposition which though they had now heard, they were resolved never to heare a second time: And accordingly, after Our propositions thus made and rejected, they presently filled the people with such misreports of the intentions and ends of Our Commissioners comming, as they wrought them to a greater height of furie then before, as if now their Religion and Lawes were brought to the stake: For now new Guards were clapt upon Our castle of Edinburgh, the Guards and Watches of the citie multiplied, the Preachers Prayers and Sermons grew to be so many Libells, and admonitions that they should take heed of craftie compositions, or yeelding in the least point of their intended reformation; for if they should abate in any one thing, it would be thought that they might be mistaken in all. They presently printed their weake Reasons against their rendring up of their Covenant, nay, they grew to that rage, that on the Saturday having knowledge that Our Commissioner (attended with Our Councell) was to heare divine Service and Sermon in Our owne chappell at Our owne palace the day following being Sunday, they sent him word that whosoever should read the English Service in Our chappell should never read more, and that there were a thousand men provided for the disturbance of it; which forced Our Commissioner that night to repaire to Dalkeith, being unwilling to heare Sermon but in Our owne chappell, or there, without hearing the English Divine Service, it having beene continually read there by the space of twentie yeares, in the audience of Our Councell, manie of the Nobilitie, Judges, and persons of all qualitie, without any interruption or dislike: Nay more, they grew to that boldnesse as to write letters to everie one of Our Councell, requiring them to subscribe their Covenant; which Letter sent to everie one of them severally, but in the same words, here followeth.
May it please your Lordship,
WEe the Ministers of the Gospel, conveened at this so necessarie a time, doe finde our selves bound to represent, as unto all, so in speciall unto your Lordship, what comfortable experience we have of the wonderfull favour of God, upon the renewing of the Confession of faith and Covenant, what peace and comfort hath filled the hearts of all Gods people, what resolutions and beginnings of reformation of manners are sensibly perceived in all parts of the kingdome, above any measure that ever we did finde or could have expected, how great glorie the Lord hath received thereby, and what confidence we have (if this sunshine be not eclipsed by some sinfull division or defection) that God shall make this a blessed kingdome, to the contentment of the Kings Majestie, and joy of all his good subjects, according as God hath promised in his good Word, and performed to his people in former times; And therefore we are forced from our hearts both to wish and entreat your Lordship to be partaker and promover of this joy and happinesse by your subscription, when your Lordship shall thinke it convenient: And in the meane while, that your Lordship would not be sparing to give a free testimonie to the truth, as a timely and necessarie expression of your tender affection to the cause of Christ now calling for helpe at your hands▪ your Lordships profession of the true Religion as it was reformed in this land, the nationall oath of this kingdome sundry times sworne and subscribed, ablishing us who live at this time, the dutie of a good Patriot, the office and trust of a Privie Councellour, the present employment to have place amongst those that are first acquainted with his Majesties pleasure, the consideration that there is the time of tryall of your Lordships affection to Religion, the respect which your Lordship hath unto your fame both now and hereafter, when things shall be recorded to posteritie, and the remembrance, that not onelyonly the eyes of men and Angels are upon your Lordships carriage, but also that the Lord Jesus is a secret witnesse now to observe, and shall be an open Judge hereafter to reward and confesse everie man before his Father, that confesseth him before men: All of these and each of them, besides your Lordships personall and particular obligations to God, doe call for no lesse at your Lordships hands, in the cause of so great and singular necessitie; and we also doe expect so much at this time, according as your Lordship at the houre of death would be free of the terrour of God, and be refreshed with the comfortable remembrance of a word spoken in season for Christ Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
OUr Commissioner in the meane time resolved to publish Our gracious Declaration, for relieving of their grievances, and satisfying Our people in Our forwardnesse for the maintenance of the Religion professed in that Kingdome, and Our aversnesse from Poperie, which they of the Covenanters Table having notice of, being above all things afraid that Our people should receive any satisfaction from Us, or rest contented with the grace of Our reasonable proffers of favour, did mightily repine at, came to Our Commissioner, and wished him for Our honour, his owne safetie, and peace of the publike, not to make any such Declaration, which undoubtedly would be encountred with a Protestation, and that in such manner as would be displeasing to him, and make the publishing of that Declaration be found disserviceable unto Us.
Our Commissioner being perplexed with these unexpected and dangerous difficulties, resolved by faire proceedings to gaine so much time, untill he might make Us acquainted with them, and receive Our answer and instructions concerning them: In his Letters of advice he acquainted Us with the danger threatned if he should publish Our Declaration, which though he knew to be full of grace, yet the heads of the Covenant would never suffer the multitude of their members to understand it so: Two things he desired of Us; One, that in case Wee continued in Our resolution of publishing Our Declaration, Wee would be pleased to sweeten it with this further favour, as to restore to the citie of Edinburgh the sitting of Our Councell, Our Session, and all other Courts of Justice, which he conceived would be very acceptable to Our Councellors, Judges, to all Advocates, and all dependents upon the Law, to all Our subjects which had businesse depending in any of these Courts, but most of all to the citie of Edinburgh, which complained much of their being impoverished by absence of these Courts, and that this was like to prove a most probable perswasion for reclaiming them to their former obedience: Next, that We would be pleased to give him leave to take a journy unto Us, though he should returne presently, that he might acquaint Us with the new emergencies of businesses, and such other things as could not be conveniently expressed in Letters, and so accordingly receive instructions from Us for his carriage.
To which Letters of advice Wee did returne by a speedie dispatch this answer; That We would have Our Declaration no longer delayed, but commanded him presently to publish it, because Wee would not (whatsoever the event should be) have Our people barred the knowledge of Our Gracious intentions and favours towards them, which We did see the leaders of them studied nothing more then to suppresse; And that at his intreatie, Wee were contented that all the Courts of Justice should presently begin to sit againe at Edinburgh for the reasons contained in his Letters, and in hope of reclaiming of that Citie, which otherwise by their misdemeanour had no reason to expect any such favour from Us; And withall, after the dispatch of these two, that Wee were contented hee should repaire to Us, as hee desired, whensoever hee should finde it convenient, taking first order with Our Councell for keeping all things in order untill his returne.
This answer of Ours so soone as Our Commissioner received, he assembled Our Councell, and made them acquainted with it, who were so well satisfied with the bringing back of Our Courts of Justice to Edinburgh, that presently they sent unto Us a Letter of thanks of this tenour.
Most Sacred Soveraigne,
THe Marquesse of Hamiltoun, your Majesties Commissioner, having imparted unto us your Majesties gracious pleasure and allowance that the Judicatories of the Councell, of Session, and others, should be returned to the Citie of Edinburgh; Thereupon, the Lord Commissioner being present, order was given for publication at the Market Crosse of Edinburgh with all solemnities requisite; and that the like publication should be made throughout the whole Kingdome at all publike places: This hath given so great contentment to all your Majesties subjects, that we cannot expresse with what dutifull respect and heartie prayers for your Majestie they have embraced this great and undeserved favour: In consideration whereof wee conceive our selves bound in dutie to acquaint your Majestie herewith; and withall to render to your Majestie most humble and heartie thanks for this so great grace and goodnesse, which wee hope shall contribute to the good of your Majesties service, and to establishing the peace of the Countrie, for the which we all▪ your Majesties good subjects shall ever bee most thankfull, and all in dutie bound to pray for your Majesties long and happie Reigne.
Holy-rood-house July 2. 1638. Subscribitur
Traquaire
Roxbrugh
Mar
Morton
Winton
Lithgow
Wigtonne
Kingorne
Hadinton
Lauderdaile
Kinoul
Southesk
Lorne
Naper
Dalyell
Ihay
Ja: Carmithaell
Thomas Hop
John Hammilton
ANd accordingly Our Commissioner caused Proclamation to be made at the Crosse of Edinburgh, for the first sitting downe of the Session there, the Tuesday following, being the third of July 1638. which was received with such joy by the Judges, Advocates, and all others having relation to the Colledge of Justice, but above all by the Magistrates and Citizens of Edinburgh, that Our Commissioner and Councell did then well hope all mens minds had beene well prepared to receive the Declaration of Our Grace and favour which was to bee published in the next Proclamation, with an humble and thankfull acknowledgment; which undoubtedly they had done, if they had not beene not onelyonly diverted, but perverted by those men who interpreted every satisfaction of Our subjects received from Us, to be a dividing and pulling them away from themselves: And therefore they quickly cast about to finde out some meanes, how this Our speciall favour might not be resented by them, which was this: They assured their followers that there were two of the Lords of Our Session, viz. Sir Robert Spotswood President of the same, and Sir John Hay Our Clerk of Register (answerable to the Master of the Rolles here in England) sworne enemies to their Covenant, well affected to Episcopall government, procurers and abettors of the pretended Innovations, that unlesse these two were presently removed from Our Session, there could be no good intended to them by the bringing of it back to Edinburgh, and therefore advised them to send some of their number to Our Commissioner to desire that these two Our Judges might presently bee removed from that Court; Not that they who put this in their heads, thought that Our Commissioner could yeeld to a request of so high injustice, but because they knew, that hee neither could nor would yeeld unto it, and that therefore by his deniall they should have meanes to irritate Our people, even to a disgust of that Our Gracious favour, which the day before they had so well relished.
But yet according to their resolution, some of the principall Covenanters of all sorts sent from their Table, had the boldnesse to repaire to Our Commissioner, and to demand of him that which they were sure no just nor honest man could grant, viz. That they could clearely prove briberie and corruptions frequently to have beene used by these Our two Judges, and therefore intreated him to remove them presently from their places of Judicatorie, after which they would intend processe, and so legally proceed in the probation of these crimes objected against them: To which their demand Our Commissioner returned this just and modest answer, That sure they could not expect that he either could or should condescend to this their desire, which yeelded unto, did overthrow the verie foundation and maine rule of Justice, viz. That any man should be punished for any crime before he were legally convicted of it, and therefore he advised them to follow the constant course of justice, which was this; If they thought these Judges clearely convincible of these horrible crimes, they should intend first processe against them, and then probation of the crimes; of which if they were found guiltie, then they needed not doubt but they should be removed from their places, and receive such further condigne punishment as the Lawes of the Kingdome had provided for such notorious criminals; assuring them, that We his Master would bee so farre from hindring the course of Justice against any such offenders, as that Wee would hold it a speciall service done to Us, to bring the iniquitie of Our Judges to publike triall and censure, and that he would make Us acquainted with their demands: with which just answer they were resolved to be so unsatisfied, that they replied unto him, that this his deniall would be attended with a great inconvenience to all Our subjects, for they would in that case of deniall make and publish a Protestation, that whatsoever Act, Decree, or Order, the Lords of Our Session should make in any cause at which these two Judges, or either of them, were present and gave voice, should be null and void in Law; and that none of Our subjects either should bee bound or would yeeld obedience to them: (Was not this a strange usurpation upon Regall power?) To this Our Commissioner only added, That everie such Protestation must be made before the Lords of the Session, who had the power of admitting or repelling it, and therefore for that point hee remitted them to these Lords as the competent Judges of it; which answer of Our Commissioner they presently laboured to have misconstrued by their partie, telling them that there was no hope of any Justice to be had against any man who was an enemie to them and their Covenant.
At the day appointed by the Proclamation, the Session sate down, and Our Commissioner in his owne person went to the place, and opened it, with a short speech to the Judges, to this purpose.
THat hee was warranted from Us to recall the Session againe to Edinburgh; That the chiefe thing that had moved Us thereunto, was the sense of the many incommodities which Our subjects in generall, and the Judges in particular did sustaine by the removing of it; That We had required him to desire and command the Judges to grant all reasonable dispatch to Our subjects in the administration of Justice, that so some time which was lost might be regained; That in Our name he required them to be very carefull and circumspect, that in these troublesome times no Order nor Decree might passe from them, which might be prejudiciall to Our Crown or service.
Our Judges hereupon returned to Our Commissioner their humble and heartie expressions of all thankfull acknowledgment, for this Our singular favour and grace to themselves and all Our subjects, and with great submission intreated him to returne unto Us their humble and heartie acknowledgment.
And here now We desire the Reader to observe, that the Covenanters neither made any such Protestation against the sitting of the two Judges, as they talked of, nor did ever intend any processe or probation against them for the crimes objected, though Our Commissioner immediately after his returne from Us, assured them, that We not onelyonly had given them leave, but would thanke them for so doing; which We are confident they would have done if they had conceived these Judges guiltie, and giveth to Us good assurance that this calumnie against these Judges, was onelyonly cast in by some of their ring-leaders, to marre and interrupt that resentment of Our grace and favour, which they perceived wrought verie much upon many of Our subjects of their partie, for bringing backe again Our Courts of Justice to Our citie of Edinburgh.
The Session thus setled, Our Commissioner resolved to publish by Proclamation the Declaration of Our grace and favour: The principall Covenanters, when they could not disswade him from it, presently went about, and both by themselves and their seditious Preachers, filled their followers mindes with such fearefull expectations of it, that some dayes before it was published▪ they filled the streets with multitudes of people, especially neare the Crosse where it was to be proclaimed, and those in hostile equipage divided into rankes, pulling their swords out of their belts, and with pistolls, being armes prohibited by Our lawes of that Kingdome, giving out, that if this Our Declaration were hearkened unto, it would bring undoubted ruine to their Religion, lawes and liberties, though the people knew nothing of what was to be delivered in Our Declaration: Some daies they continued in this posture, which made Our Commissioner delay the publishing of it, untill he might heare of more quietnesse and peace in the streets; of which being advertised, he caused the Proclamation of Our grace and favour solemnely to be made at the Crosse of Edinburgh: No sooner were the trumpets sounded, but there came to the Crosse a mightie confluxe of people, the Covenanters had presently a scaffold erected, on which they mounted with a Protestation readie written in their hands, before Our Proclamation was pronounced: Our Proclamation was thus.