DIE Veneris, 26 Augusti.
PRAYERS.
Lord Kymbolton, Speaker.
Papers from the Scots Commissioners.
Reported, "That the Committee had (fn. *) received from
the Scotts Commissioners,
"1. A General Declaration from the Scotts;" which
was read publicly in the House. (Here enter it.)
"2. An Extract of the Book of Acts of the Secret
Council in Scotland." Read in the House. (Here
enter it.)
Mr. Dr. Aylett and Mr. Dr. Heath carried them both
to the House of Commons.
Scots Commissioners disavow a Pamphlet— Royal Resolutions of Scotland.
Printer sent for.
The Scotts Commissioners disavowed a Pamphlet, that
was printed and published in the Town, intituled, "A
Declaration of the Royal Resolution of the Kingdom
of Scotland;" and desired that the Printer might be
sent for, and punished: Whereupon it is Ordered,
That he shall be sent for, as a Delinquent.
E. of Arundel's Horses to be sent over to him.
Ordered, That Nine Horses, and Six Men to look
to them, shall be sent beyond the Seas, to the Earl
of Arundell.
Message from the H. C. with a Letter to the Lords Justices of Ireland.
A Message from the Commons, by Mr. Reynalls and
others:
That the House of Commons hath framed a Letter,
to be sent to the Lords Justices of Ireland, which hath
been read in their House; and they desire the Lords
Concurrence therein; and, after it hath passed both
Houses, that all the Commissioners in the Town (fn. †) do sign
it, and send it speedily away.
Read, and approved of.
Order against breaking open Houses.
Ordered, That a General Order against breaking
of Houses, stealing or taking away of Goods, and entering into Houses without Officers, shall be drawn up,
and offered to the House.
Message from the H. C. with Orders for the Lords Concurrence
A Message from the Commons, by Sir Tho. Dacres
and others:
That the Commons have sent up Three Orders, and
a Vote, and desire their Lordships Concurrence.
1. An Order concerning the Abuse in Printing.
(Enter it.)
Read, and approved.
2. An Act concerning the Importation of Currants.
(Enter it.)
Read, and approved.
3. An Act to enable Captain Lee to train Volunteers
near Rochester.
Read, and approved.
"Resolved, etc.
Deputy Lieutenants of Hertfordshire.
"4. That this House doth approve of Rob't Cecill,
Esquire, Sir Jo. Garratt, Baronet, Sir Jo. Reade,
Baronet, Sir Jo. Wittewronge, Knight, Rich. Jenninges,
Esquire, and Wm. Lemon, Esquire, to be Deputy
Lieutenants of the County of Hertford."
Read, and approved.
De Mountague to have a Pass, and his Goods restored to him.
The House was informed, "That one De Mountague,
a Frenchman, inhabiting in The Covent Garden, had
several of his Goods taken out of his House:" Whereupon it is Ordered, That the said Goods (being made
appear to be his) shall be restored to him again; and
that he shall have a Pass to go into France.
A Message from the Commons, by Mr. Vasall and
others:
Message from the H. C. with an Ordinance for raising Money.
That the Commons have passed an Ordinance, for
the raising of Money, for the suppressing of this War,
and desire the Lords Concurrence.
The Messengers, being withdrawn and afterwards
called in again, were told, "That the Lords would
send them an Answer, by Messengers of their own."
Sent back to the H. C.
The said Ordinance was read, and, with some Amendments, was sent to the Commons, by Mr. Dr. Aylett and
Mr. Dr. Heath. (Enter it.)
Letter to the Lords Justices of Ireland, about the Relief of Munster.
"After our very hearty Commendations to your
Lordships,
"We have been lately informed, by Sir Willm. Ogle,
in what a dangerous Condition the Province of Munster
now is, by reason of the great Multitude and Strength
of the Rebels there, and the small Numbers of Men
to resist them, and to clear that Province, by reducing Limerick and the other considerable Places;
and therefore, taking into Consideration that, there
being above Four and Forty Thousand Men, in the
Pay of this State, for the present in that Kingdom
(a greater Army than hath been formerly sent hence),
and (if managed to the best Advantage) in all Probability enough to reduce the Rebels without any
further Addition:
"Although it would be hard for us (unless we were
upon the Place) to give particular Directions what
Numbers of Men shall be drawn from one Part
of the Kingdom to another, and in what Way, because we cannot know or foresee the Inconveniences
that may arise thereby; yet, knowing that Munster
is in such Distress, and that there are great Numbers
of Men in Lemster and Ulster, which may be drawn
to their Relief, where the greatest Burthen of the
War is; we do earnestly recommend it to your Lordships Care, that (securing the City of Dublin, either
by disarming the Papists, or removing them thence
for a Season, so as a less Garrison may serve there)
you forthwith so distribute and dispose of the Forces
in the other Provinces, as that there may be a sufficient Number of them sent into Munster, for the
Succour and Relief of the small Numbers that are
already there, and for the re-gaining thereof; and
that the same be done in such Manner as may be
most advantageous to the Service, and for the Good of
the Kingdom in general. Your Lordships cannot be
ignorant of the great Burthern that now lieth on this
Kingdom, and how much it concerneth us in particular to give a good Account of the Trust His Majesty and the Parliament hath reposed in us, for the
Affairs of that of Ireland; and therefore we press
these Directions the more earnestly, to the End that
if, by the not Observance thereof with all possible
Speed, the Inconveniences follow which are already
foreseen and feared, we may acquit ourselves of the
Blame, and lay it on those that shall fail of their
Duties herein. And so we bid your Lordships very
heartily Farewell.
"Your Lordships very loving Friends."
Westm, the 25th of August, 1642.
Order against printing Parliamentary Proceedings but by Authority.
"Veneris, 26 Augusti, 1642.
"Whereas there hath been of late great Disorders
and Abuses, by irregular Printing, to the great
Scandal of Religion and Government; and a Bill is
in Preparation for the Redress of those Mischiefs,
which, by reason of the present Distractions, cannot be so speedily perfected and passed as is desired:
It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That no Person, or Persons, shall print, publish, or utter, any Book or Pamphlet, false or scandalous to the Proceedings of the Houses of Parliament, or either of them; nor shall print, utter, or
publish, any Book, or Pamphlet, with the Name of
the Clerk of either House of Parliament set thereunto, or with any Expression, Pretence of Order,
from both or either of the said Houses, without
special Order from the said Houses, or either of them,
or of the Committees of them, or either of them,
concerning Printing; and the same to be entered in
the Register Book of the said Company, according
to ancient Custom; and the Master and Wardens of
the Company of Stationers of London, and the Usher
of the Black Rod, and Serjeant of the Commons
House of Parliament, and their Deputies, are hereby
authorized and required to make diligent Search,
from Time to Time, for all such Books and Pamphlets to be hereafter printed, and the same to seize
and take, together with the Presses and other Printing
Materials wherewith the same shall be printed, and
carry them to the Common Hall of the said Company, there to remain till either House of Parliament shall otherwise dispose thereof; and all His
Majesty's Officers shall, upon Request, aid and assist,
to apprehend Offenders in the Premises, and to bring
them before the Lords or Commons House of Parliament, or the Committees appointed for Printing;
upon whose Report of the Fact, such Course shall
be taken with the said Offenders as shall be just;
and, for that Purpose, the said Committees are to sit
at such Times and Places as they shall think fit."
"Ordinance inhibiting the Importation of Currants:
Order to prohibit the Importation of Currants.
"Whereas it is found, by daily Experience, that the
(fn. *) Importation of Currants into this Kingdom (it being
a Commodity of little or no Use at all, but a meer
Superfluity, and may well be spared) is a Matter of
great Concernment, not only to the Merchant, but
to this Nation, in regard the said Commodity cannot
be had in the Parts beyond the Seas, where the
same are bought, without ready Money; One Hundred Thousand Pounds per Annum at least, being bestowed in Currants, which otherwise would be brought
into this Kingdom, is wholly diverted; whereas formerly (till of latter Years) the said Currants were
bought for Commodities of this Kingdom exported
hence, of small Value; besides the great Advantage
which is Yearly made upon the Merchant (where the
said Currants are laden), to their exceeding Prejudice, by the high and excessive Rates and Taxes which
are there imposed upon the said Commodity.
"For the Prevention of the like Mischief in Time to
come, the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, at the Instance and Desire of the
Merchants of this Kingdom, and by and with their
Consent, do Order, Ordain, and Declare, That,
from and after the last Day of September, which
shall be in the Year of our Lord God 1642, that
no Currants be imported into the Kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, by any Merchants,
Strangers, Denizens, or others, by Way of Merchandize, or otherwise, from any Parts beyond the
Seas; but the Importation thereof, from and after
the said last Day of September, is hereby utterly prohibited and forbidden: And further, by the Authority aforesaid, it is Ordered and Declared, That,
from and after the said last Day of September,
no Entries be taken of any Currants that shall
be imported into this Kingdom, or Dominion of
Wales, by any Officer whatsoever, in any of the Custom-houses, or elsewhere; and, in case any Merchant,
Denizen, or Alien, or any other Person whatsoever,
contrary to this Ordinance, shall presume to import
and unlade any Currants, within this Kingdom, or
Dominion of Wales, after the said last Day of September, that it shall be lawful for the Officers of the
Custom-house respectively to seize, take, and carry
away, all such Currants, and them to detain until
they shall receive further Order from both Houses of
Parliament in that Behalf; and that every Person that
shall offend herein shall be liable to such further
Punishment and Censure as the Lords and Commons,
in a Parliamentary Way, shall inflict or impose: And
it is further Ordered, That the respective Officers
of the Custom-houses do take special Care to put
this Ordinance in Execution, or do cause it to be fully
executed, in every Point, according to the true Intention
of the same; and that such Persons as shall not obey in
any of the Premises shall answer their Neglect and
Contempt before the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and not otherwise, or elsewhere.
"And lastly, it is Ordered and Declared, That
from and after the 23d Day of August, which shall be
in the Year of Our Lord God 1642, that no Currants, which are already bought in the Parts beyond
the Seas, and brought into this Kingdom, or Dominion of Wales, shall be sold by Retail, for more than
after the Rate of Five Pence the Pound; and that, if
any Person (that shall sell the same) shall offend contrary to this Ordinance, that he shall be liable to receive such Punishment as the Lords and Commons, in
a Parliamentary Way, shall impose, for his Contempt
in that Behalf."
"Die Veneris, 26 Augusti, 1642.
Captain Lee to train the Rochester Voluntiers.
"It is this Day Ordered, by the and Commons assembled in Parliament, That Captain Richard
Lee, of Rochester, in the County of Kent, shall have
Power to assemble together, muster, train, exercise,
and command, the Trained Bands, within the City
of Rochester, the Liberties thereof, together with the
Parishes of Chatham, Gillingham, and St. James, in the
Isle of Graine, as often as he shall see requisite, as
also the Parishes of Freinsbury and Strowde, near unto the said City of Rochester; and, for his and their
so doing, this shall be, as well to the said Captain
Lee as to the said Trained Bands, a sufficient Warrant: It is further Ordered, That the Mayor of
Rochester, and the Aldermen of the said City, and
other the Justices of Peace of the City and County,
such as he shall think fit to call, be assisting and aiding to the said Captain Lee, in this Service."
"Veneris, 26 Augusti, 1642.
Ordinance for raising Money in London.
"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That, for the more
speedy and effectual Provision of sufficient Treasure,
to be employed in quenching this unnatural War now
kindled in the Heart of this Kingdom, by Papists,
Persons popishly affected, Traitors, and Delinquents,
about His Majesty, That the several Persons hereunder named, or any Three or more of them, do forthwith summon all the Inhabitants, as well Freemen
as others Resiants, within the Ward of
in the City of London, which they, orany Three or more
of them, shall think fit to be summoned; and do likewise
repair unto the several Houses, or Places of Abode,
of all the Inhabitants, as well Freemen as other Resiants or Inhabitants, within the said Ward, which
they, or any Three or more of them, shall think fit to be
repaired unto; and, in the Name of both Houses of
Parliament, do give hearty Thanks to so many of
them (whether summoned or repaired unto) as have
already contributed, by Way of Loan or Gift, any
Money, Plate, Horse, or Arms, according to the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament heretofore
published in that Behalf; assuring all and every of
them, that the said Houses are very sensible of their
Alacrity and Duty therein, and do resolve to be as
careful of their Safety and Welfare as of their own,
and to live and die with them in this Cause; and
likewise that the said Persons hereunder named, or
any Three or more of them, do acquaint not only those,
but especially the rest of the said Inhabitants who
have not yet contributed, with the Necessity of Subscriptions for Plate and Money, still pressing; and accordingly desire and stir up them, and every of them,
to underwrite, in a Book provided for that Purpose
(and wherein their Names shall be registered whether
they underwrite or no), such Sums of Money and
Plate as may testify their real and full Performance
of their late Protestation, and sacred Vow to Almighty
God, and of their Readiness to join with the rest of
the well-affected Party of the Kingdom, and us the
Lords and Commons, who are resolved to pursue this
Work with our Lives, Persons, and Estates, for their
Preservation as well as for our own: And, because
the Success of this necessary Design depends much
upon the speedy Dispatch thereof, it is therefore further desired, that all such Persons as shall hereupon
subscribe as aforesaid be desired, by the Parties employed to take their Subscriptions, instantly to bring
in One Third Part of the said Money and Plate,
subscribed by each of them respectively, to the Treasurers for Money and Plate formerly appointed, in
The Guildhall, London, who shall thereupon give Receipts for the same, in Manner and Form already Ordered and used; and that the Second Third Part of
their said Subscriptions be likewise brought in, to the
Persons and Place aforesaid, at the End of One Month
next after their Subscriptions; and the last Payment at
the End of the Second Month next after their said
Subscription: For all which both Houses of Parliament
do hereby engage the Public Faith of the Kingdom,
that they shall be re-paid, with Eight per Centum Allowance for the same, according to the said former Propositions. And because the Lords and Commons are
very sensible of the good Affections of the City of London, and their Service to the Public, they have directed the Lord General to leave Two Regiments of Foot,
and Four Troops of Horse, under the Command of
Serjeant Major General Skippon, for the Safety of the
said City; which Two Regiments and Four Troops, and
the said Serjeant Major Skippon, shall be paid out of
such Subscriptions as shall be be made by the said City."
After the Names, to be added,
"All such other Persons as any Three or more of the
Parties herein named, within the several Wards, shall
think fit to call unto them as Assistants in this Service."
"At Edenburg, the 18th Day of August, 1642.
Extract from the Register of the Secret Council of Scotland, relative to the Petition of St. Andrews, for Uniformity in Church Government.
"The Lords of Secret Council, having red, hard,
and considerit, the Petition this Day given in to thame,
in Name of the late General Assembly haldin at
St. Andrews, be thaire Commissiones appointed for that
Effect, desireing the Councell to concurre with thame
in thair Remonstrance to the Parliament of England,
toward the setling of Unity in Religion, and Uniformity in Kirk Government, in His Majesty's Three
Kingdomes; and having also heard the Petition direct
from the Assembly to His Majesty, with theire Answere to the Parliament of England, the Scots Commissioners of the Treaty at London, and certain Ministers
of England, concerning this Matter; and finding the
Reasons thairein exprest to be very pregnant, and the
Particular desired much to conduce for the Glory of
God, the Advancement of the true Christian Faith,
His Majesty's Honor, and the Peace and Union of
His Dominions; The said Lords, out of theire Duty
to the Furtherance of soe much-wished and important
a Work, and Affection to theire Brethren of the Kingdom of England, doe unanimously and heartily concurre
with the said Nationall Assembly, in theire earnest Desires to the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of
England, to take to theire serious Consideration the
Particular foresaid, tuicheing Unity in Religion, and
Uniformity in Kirk Government, in the said Three
Kingdomes, as a singular Meane of His Majesty's Honor, the Good of the true Christian Faith, and Happines of His Majesty's Dominions; and to give favorable Heireing to such Desire and Overtures as
sall be sund most conuceable for the promoveing
of soe greate and good a Worke.
"Extractum de Libris Actorum Secreti Consilii
S. D. N. Regis, per me,
Arch. Primrose,
"Clericum Consilii."
Answer of the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, to the Declaration of both Houses, for conciliating Matters, and effecting a Reformation in Church Government.
"The General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland,
having received a Declaration sent unto them by the
Commissioners of this Kingdom now at London, from
the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England,
expressing their Care to prevent the Essusion of Christian Blood in that Kingdom and their Affections to
Reformation both in Kirke and State, and having taken
the same to such Consideration as the Importance
of so weighty Matters, and the high Estimation they
have of so wise and honourable a Meeting as is the
Parliament of England, did require, have, with
universal Consent, resolved upon this following Answer:
"1. That, from the recent Sense of the Goodness
of God, in their own late Deliverance, and from their
earnest Desire of all Happiness to our Native King
and that Kingdom, they bliss the Lord, for preserving them, in the midst of so many unhappy Divisions
and Troubles, from a bloody intestine Warre, which is
from God the greatest Judgement, and to such a Nation the Compend of all Calamities. They also give
God Thanks for their former and present Desires of
a Reformation, especially of Religion, which is the
Glory and Strength of a Kingdom, and bringeth
with it all Temporal Blissings of Prosperity and
Peace.
2. That the Hearts of all the Members of this Assembly, and of all the well-affected within this Kingdom, are exceedingly grieved and made heavy, that,
in so long a Time, against the Professions both of King
and Parliament, and contrary to the joint Desires and
Prayers of the Godly in both Kingdoms, to whom it
is more dear and precious than what is dearest to
them in the World, the Reformation of Religion
hath moved so slowly, and suffered so great Interruption.
They consider that not only Prelates, formal Professors, profane and worldly Men, and all that are
Popishly affected, are bad Counsellors and Workers,
and do abuse their Power, and bend all their Strength
and Policies against the Work of God; but the God
of this World also, with Principalities and Powers, the
Rulers of the Darkness of this World, and Spiritual
Wickedness in High Places, are working with all their
Force and Fraud in the same Opposition, not without
Hope of Success, they having preveiled so farre from
the Beginning, that, in the Times of the best Kings
of Juda of old, and the most Part of the Reformed
Kirkes of late, a thorough and perseit Reformation
of Religion hath bein a Work full of Difficulties;
yet do they conceive, that, as it ought first of all to
be intended, so should it be above all other Things,
with Confidence in God, who is greater than the
World and he who is in the World, most seriously
endeavoured; and that, when the Supream Providence
giveth Opportunity of the accepted Time and Day of
Salvation, no other Work can prosper in the Hands
of His Servants, if it be not apprehended, and with
all Reverence and Faithfulness improved. This Kirke
and Nation, when the Lord gave them the Calling,
considered not their own Deadness, not staggered at
the Promise through Unbelief, but gave Glory to
God. And who knoweth (we speak it in Humility
and Love, and from no ather Mind than from a Desire of the Blessing of God upon our King and that
Kingdom) bot the Lord hath now some Controversy
with England, which will not be removed till, first and
before all, the Worship of His Name and the Government of His House be settled, according to His
own Will? When this Desire shall come, it shall be
to England, after so-long-deferred Hopes, a Tree of
Life, which shall not only yield Temporal Blissings unto themselves, bot also shall spread the Branches so
farre, that both this Nation and ather Reformed Kirks
shall find the Fruits thereof, to their great Satisfaction.
"3. The Commissioners of this Kingdom, in the late
Treaty of Peace, considering that Religion is not only
the Mean of the Service of God, and saving of Souls,
bot is allso the Base and Foundation of Kingdoms and
Estates, and the strongest Band to tye Subjects to
their Prince in true Loyalty, and to knit the Hearts of
one to another in true Unity and Love; they did,
with Preface of all due Respect and Reverence, farre
from Arrogancy or Presumption, represent, in Name
of this Kingdom, their serious Thoughts and earnest
Desires for Unity of Religion; that, in all His Majesty's Dominions, there might be One Confession of
Faith, One Directory of Worship, One Public Catechism, and One Form of Kirke Government: This
they conceived to be acceptable to God Almighty,
who delighteth to see His People walking in Truth and
Unity; to be a special Means for conserving of Peace
betwixt the Kingdoms; of easing the King's Majesty
and the Public Government of much Troble, which
ariseth from Difference of Religion, very grievous to
Kings and Estates; of great Content to the King Himself, to His Nobles, His Court, and all His People,
when, occasioned to be abroad, without Scruple to
themselves, or Scandal to others, all may resort to the
same Public Worship as they were at their own Dwellings; of suppressing the Names of Heresies and Sects,
Puritans, Conformists, Separatists, Anabaptists, &c.
which do rend asunder the Bowells both of Kirke and
Kingdom; of Dispaire of Success to Papists and Recusants, to have their Profession, which is inconsistent with
the true Protestant Religion and Authority of Princes,
set up again; and of drawing the Hearts and Hands
of Ministers from unpleasant and unprofitable Controversies, to the pressing of Mortification, and to Treatises of true Piety and Practical Divinity. The Assembly doth now enter upon the Labour of the Commissioners, unto which they are encouraged not only by
their Faithfulness in the late Treaty, but also by the
Zeal and Example of the General Assemblies of this
Kirke in former Times; as may appear by the Assembly at Edenburgh, December 25, in the Year 1566,
which ordained a Letter to be sent to England, against
the Surplice, Tippett, Cornercoape, and such other
Ceremonies as then troubled that Kirke, that they
might be removed; by the Assembly at Edenburgh,
April 24, 1583, humbly desiring the King's Majesty
to command His Ambassador, then going to England,
to deale with the Queen, that there might be an
Union and Band betwixt them and other Christian
Princes and Realms professing the true Religion, for
Defence and Protection of the Word of God, and
Professors thereof, against the Persecution of Papists
and Confederates, joined and knit together by the
bloody League of Trent, as also that Her Majesty
would disburden their Brethren of England of the
Yoke of Ceremonies, imposed upon them against
the Liberty of the Word; and by the Assembly at
Edinburgh, March 3, 1589, ordaining the Presbitery
of Edinburgh to use all good and possible Means, for
the Relief and Comfort of the Kirke of England, then
heavily troubled for maintaining the true Discipline
and Government of the Kirke, and that the Brethren
in their private and public Prayers recommend the
Estate of the afflicted Kirke of England to God:
While now, by the Mercy of God, the Conjunction
of the Two Kingdoms is many Ways increased, the
Zeal of the General Assembly towards their Happiness ought to be no less. But, besides these, the Assembly is much encouraged unto this Duty, both from
the King's Majesty and His Parliament jointly, in their
Answer to the Proposition made by the late Commissioners of the Treaty, in these Words: To their Desire concerning Unity of Religion, and Uniformity of
Kirk Government, as a special Means for conserving of
Peace betwixt the Two Kingdoms, upon the Grounds and
Reasons contained in the Paper of the 10 th of March,
and given into the Treaty and Parliament of England; it
is answered, upon the 15th of June, That His Majesty,
with Advice of both Houses of Parliament, doth approve
of the Affection of His Subjects of Scotland, in their
Desire of having Conformity of Kirke Government between
the Two Nations: and, as the Parliament hath already
taken into Consideration the Reformation of Kirke Government, so they will proceed therein, in due Time, as shall
best conduce to the Glory of God, the Peace of the Kirke,
and of both Kingdoms: And also severally; for His
Majesty knoweth that the Custody and Vindication,
the Conservation and Purgation, of Religion are a
great Part of the Duty of Civil Authority and Power.
His Majesty's late Practice, while He was here in Person, in resorting frequently to the Exercises of Public Worship; His Royal Actions, in establishing the
Worship and Government of this Kirke in Parliament,
and in giving Order for a competent Maintenance
to the Ministry and Seminaries of the Kirke; and
His Majesty's gracious Letter to the Assembly (seconded by the Speech of His Majesty's Commissioner),
which containeth this religious Expression: Where any
Thing is amiss, We will endeavour, in a fair and orderly Way, a Reformation; and where Reformation is settled, We resolve, with that Authority wherewith God
hath vested Us, to maintain and defend it in Peace and
Liberty, against all Trouble that can come from without,
and against all Heresies, Sects, and Schisms, which may
arise from within. All these do make us hopeful that
His Majesty will not oppose, but advance, the Work
of Reformation. In like Manner the Honourable Houses
of Parliament, as they have many Times before witnessed their Zeal, so now also, in their Declaration sent
to the Assembly, which not only sheweth the Constancy
of their Zeal, but their great Grief that the Work
hath been interrupted, by a malignant Party of Papists
and evil-affected Persons, especially of the corrupt and
dissolute Clergy, by the Incitement and Instigation of
Bishops and others; their Hopes (fn. *) according to their
earnest Desire, when they shall return to a peaceable
and Parliamentary Proceeding, by the Blessing of God,
to settle such a Reformation in the Church, as shall
be agreeable to God's Word; and that the Result
shall be a most firm and stable Union between the
Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, etc. The
Assembly also is not a little encouraged, by a Letter
sent from many Reverend Brethren of the Kirke of
England, expressing their Prayers and Endeavours
against every Thing which shall be found prejudicial
to the Establishment of the Kingdom of Christ, and
the Peace of their Sovereign. Upon these Encouragements, and having so patent a Door of Hope, the Assembly doth confidently expect, that England will now
bestir themselves in the best Way for a Reformation
of Religion; and do most willingly offer their Prayers
and uttermost Endeavours, for furthering so great a
Work, wherein Christ is so much concerned in His
Glory, the King in His Honour, the Kirke and Kingdom of England in their Happiness, and this Kirke
and Kingdom in the Purity and Peace of the Ghospell.
"4. That the Assembly also, from so many real Invitations, are heartened to renue their Proposition,
made by the aforenamed Commissioners of this Kingdom,
for beginning the Work of Reformation at the Uniformity of Kirk Government; for what Hope can there
be of Unity in Religion, of One Confession of Faith,
One Form of Worship, and One Catechism, till
there be first One Form of Ecclesiastical Government?
Yea, what Hope can the Kingdom and Kirke of
Scotland have of a firm and durable Peace, till Prelacy, which hath been the main Cause of their Miseries and Trouble first and last, be plucked up Root
and Branch, as a Plant which God hath not planted,
and from which no better Fruits can be expected
than such four Grapes as this Day set on Edge the
Kingdom of England.
"5. The Prelatical Hierarchy being put out of the
Way, the Work will be easy, without forcing any
Conscience, to settle in England the Government of
the Reformed Kirks by Assemblies; for, although
the Reformed Kirks do hold, without doubting, their
Kirk Officers and Kirk Government, by Assemblies,
higher and lower, in their strong and beautiful Subordination, to be Ture Divino and perpetual; yet Prelacy, as it differeth from the Office of a Pastor, is almost
universally acknowledged, by the Prelates themselves
and their Adherents, to be but an human Ordinance,
introduced by human Reason, and settled by human
Law and Custom, for supposed Conveniency; which
therefore, by human Authority, without wronging
any Man's Conscience, may be altered and abolished,
upon so great a Necessity as is a hearty Conjunction
with all the Reformed Kirks; a firm and well-grounded
Peace between the Two Kingdoms, formerly divided
in themselves, and betwixt themselves, by this Partition-Wall; and a perfect Union of the Kirks in the
Two Nations; which, although, by the Providence
of God, in One Island, and under One Monarch,
yet, ever since the Reformation, and for the present
also, are at greater Difference in the Point of Kirk
Government, which in all Places hath a powerful Influence upon all the Parts of Religion, than any other
Reformed Kirks, although in Nations at greater Distance, and under divers Princes.
"6. What may be required of the Kirke of Scotland,
for furthering the Work of Uniformity of Government, or for agreeing upon a Common Confession of
Faith, Catechism, and Directory for Worship, shall,
according to the Order given by this Assembly, be
most willingly performed by us, who long extreamly
for the Day when King and Parliament shall join, for
bringing to pass so great, so good a Work; that, all
Wars and Commotions ceasing, all Superstition, Idolatry, Heresies, Sects, and Schisms, being removed,
as the Lord is One, so His Name may be One amonst
us; and Mercy and Truth, Righteousness and Peace,
meeting together and kissing one another, may dwell
in this Island.
St. Andrews, August 3d, 1642.
"F. Shouston,
Clericus Eccles."
Adjourn.
Adjourn, 10 To-morrow.