DIE Lunæ, 11 die Septembris.
PRAYERS.
Earl of Denbigh, Speaker this Day.
Answer from the H. C. about Justice Berkley's Sentence.
The Messengers sent to the House of Commons on
Saturday last return with this Answer:
That they will come up this Day, and demand Judgement against Mr. Justice Berkley.
Thompson to attend, for threatening to seize the E. of Westmoreland's Horses.
Upon Information, "That, though the Earl of
Westm. hath an Order of this House to protect his
Horses which he doth ride abroad on to take the
Air with, yet one Thompson, a Corporal to one Captain Whiting's Company, doth give out Speeches,
That, notwithstanding the said Order, he will take
away the Earl's Horses, and uses divers other uncivil Speeches of his Lordship:" Hereupon this House
Ordered, The said Thompson shall appear before this
House, to answer the same.
Report from the Committee, appointed to receive the Propositions from the Scotch Commissioners.
The Lord Viscount Say & Seale and the Lord Howard reported, "That, according to the Order of this
House, they have, with the Committee of the House
of Commons, been with the Scotts Commissioners, to
receive Propositions from them; and First the Commissioners presented to their Lordships a Commission;"
which was commanded to be read, which accordingly
was done: videlicet,
Edenbrugh, 19th August, 1643. Sess. ib.
Commission from the General Assembly, empowering Commissioners to treat concerning Uniformitiy of Church Government.
"The Generall Assembly of the Kirke of Scotland,
finding it necessary to send some Godly and Learned
of this Kirke to the Kingdome of England, to the Effect underwritten; therefore gives full Power and
Comission to Mr. Alexander Henderson, Mr. Rob't
Douglas, Mr. Samuell Rutherford, Mr. Rob't Bailzie,
and Mr. George Gillespie, Ministers, John Earle of
Cassills, John Lord Maitland, and Sir Archbald Johnston of Waryston Knight, Elders, or any Three of
them, whereof Two shall be Ministers, to repaire to
the Kingedome of England, and there to deliver the
Declaration sent unto the Parliament of England, and
the Letter sent unto the Assembly of Divines now
sitting in that Kingdome; and to propound, consult,
treat, and conclude with that Assembly, or any Comissioners deputed by them, or any Committees and
Commissioners deputed by the Houses of Parliament,
in all Matters which may further the Union of this
Iland, in One Forme of Kirk Government, One Consession of Faith, One Catechisme, and One Directory
for the Worship of God, according to the Instructions
whih they have receved from the Assembly, or
sh afrom Tyme to Tyme hereafter, from the Com
missioners of the Assembly, deputed for that Effect,
with Power alsoe to them to convey to His Majesty
the humble Answere sent from this Assembly to His
Majesty's Letter, by such Occasion as they shall thinke
convenient, and such like, to deliver the Assemblies
Answere to the Letter sent from some well-affected Brethren of the Ministry there, and generally authorizes
them to doe all Things which may further the somuch-desired Union and neerest Conjunction of the
Two Kirkes of Scotland and England, conforme to their
Instructions aforesaid.
Vera Copia,
John Don.
Sic subscribitur,
A. Jhonston, Cl's Eccl."
More Papers from Scotland.
Next, was read, "The Answer of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland to the Declaration
of the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, Eding. 19th of Aug. 1643." (Here enter it.)
Next, was read, "A Declaration of the Convention
of Estates of Scotland, to the Honourable Houses of
the Parliament of England, 26 Aug. 1643."
(Here enter.)
Their Lordships further reported, "That the Commissioners had a Declaration to the Assembly of Divines, which they desired might be delivered to such
Persons as should be appointed."
Hereupon this House Ordered, That these Papers
be communicated, at a Conference, to the House of
Commons; and to desire them to join with this House,
to send to the Assembly of Divines, that they would appoint some of the Assembly to receive the said Declaration.
Message to the H. C. for a Conference upon them.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Edw. Leech and Doctor Aylett:
To desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, touching some Papers received from the Scotts Commissioners.
Ordered, That all the Lords now in Town shall
have Notice to attend this House To-morrow Morning,
with their Robe, to give Judgement against Mr. Justice
Berckley.
Kayes to be instituted to the Rectory of Sandwich, on the Resignation of Dr. Hall.
Upon reading the Petition of John Kayes, Minister;
shewing, "That whereas Doctor Hall, Resident upon
Barking Church in Essex, and Rector of Sundrich in
Kent, at the Instance of the Parishioners of Sundrich,
was and is willing to resign his Rectory of Sundrich,
so that the Petitioner might succeed him therein;
but the Archbishop of Cant. refused to accept of the
Resignation, and to collate the Rectory upon the Petitioner, albeit this Honourable House was pleased to
make an Order that the Archbishop should, upon the
Resignation, collate the said Rectory upon the Petitioner: Wherefore he humbly beseeches this Honourable House to authorize Sir Nathaniell Brent, the
Archbishop's Vicar General, or any other whom it (fn. *) may
concern, upon the Resignation of the said Rectory, to
give the Petitioner Institution and Induction thereunto, according to an Ordinance of Parliament, Die
Sabbathi, 10 Junii, 1643, concerning the Rectory of
Chartam, in Kent:"
Hereupon this House Ordered, That Sir Nath.
Brent shall have a Copy of this Petition, and then take
the Resignation and institute and induct the Petitioner,
according to this Petition.
The Messengers return with this Answer:
Answer from the H. C.
That the House of Commons will give a present Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.
The House was adjourned during Pleasure, and the
Lords went to the Conference; which being ended, the
House was resumed.
The Assembly to appoint a Committee to receive Papers from Scotland.
Ordered, That the Assembly of Divines shall hereby
have Power to appoint a Committee, to receive such Papers of the Commissioners that are come from Scotland,
that are sent to them from the Assembly of the Kingdom of Scotland; and the Lord Viscount Say & Seale
and the Lord Wharton shall let the Assembly know the
Pleasure of this House herein.
Ordered, That the Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Bollingbrooke, and the Lord Grey of Warke, are added, to be of
the Assembly, in the Place of the Earls of Bedford,
Holland, and the Lord Viscount Conway.
Message to the H. C. to concur in it.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Sir Edw. Leech and Mr. Doctor Aylett:
To let them know, that whereas the Scotts Commissioners, having something to deliver to the Assembly of
Divines from the Assembly of Scotland, desired that the
Assembly here might have Power to nominate and appoint a Committee of their Members, to receive the
same, that this House hath given the Assembly Power to
that Purpose, and to desire the House of Commons
will join herein; and likewise to let them know, that
this House hath appointed the Earls of Denbigh and
Bollingbrooke, and the Lord Grey of Warke; to be added
Members of the Assembly; wherein their Lordships desire their Concurrence.
Message from thence; to the same Effect;
A Message was brought (fn. *) from the House of Commons, by Sir John Clattworthy Knight:
To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons thinks it fit to give Liberty to the Assembly of Divines, to nominate a Committee, to receive such Things,
at the Hands of the Commissioners come from Scotland,
as are sent to them from that Assembly; wherein they
desire their Lordships Concurrence.
and to expedite the Covenant.
2. To desire their Lordships to give Expedition to
the Covenant.
The Answer returned was:
Answer.
That their Lordships do agree to give Liberty to the
Assembly to nominate a (fn. †) Committee, to receive the
Papers from the Scotts Commissioners; and concerning
the Covenant, their Lordships will send an Answer, by
Messengers of their own, in convenient Time.
Edinburgh, 19th of August, 1643.
"The Answere of the Generall Assembly of the
Church of Scotland, to the Declaration of the
Honnourable Houses of the Parliament of England.
Answer of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to the Declaration of both Houses.
"The Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland,
haveing receaved a Declaration from the Honnourable
Houses of the Parliament of England, by theire Committees and Commissioners now resideing here, hath
thought good to make knowne unto the Lords and
Commons in Parliament, that all the Members of this
Assembly, and others well-affected here, doe with most
thankfull Respects take speciall Notice of the Expressions which they have bin pleased to make in the aforenamed Declaration, not only concerning theire Approbation of the Desires and Indeavours of the Generall
Assembly of this Church, for the Reformation of the
Church of England, and the Union of both Churches in
Religion and Church Government, but alsoe concerning
the Resolution of both Houses fully to concurre with
them in those pious Intentions; with the same Thankfullnes and due Reverence, they acknowledge the high
Respects expressed towards them by both Houses, in
directing unto them theire Committees and Commissioners assisted by Two Reverend Divines, and in desireing of some of the Godly and Learned of this Church
to be sent unto the Assembly sitting there.
The Assembly doth blesse the Lord, who hath not
only inspired the Houses of Parliament with Desires and
Resolutions of the Reformation of Religion, but hath
advanced by severall Stepps and Degrees that blessed
Worke; by which as they shall most approve themselves
to the Reformed Churches abroad, and to theire Brethren of Scotland, soe shall they most powerfully drawe
downe from Heaven the Blessings of Prosperity and
Peace upon England; and, as it is the earnest Wish of
theire Brethren heere, that the true State and Ground
of the present Differences and Contraversies in England
may bee more and more cleered to bee concerning Religion, and that both Houses may uncessantly prosecute that good Worke, first and above all other Matters, giveing noe Sleepe to theire Eyes, nor Slumber to
theire Eye-lids, untill they finde out an Place for the
Lord, an Habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob;
whose Favor alone can make theire Mountayne stronge,
and whose Presence in His owne Ordinances shall be
theire Glory in the Middst of them; soe it is our Confidence, that the begun Reformation is of God, and
not of Man; that it shall encrease, and not decrease;
and that He to whome nothing is to hard, who can
make Mountaynes Valleyes, crooked Things straight,
and rough Wayes smoth, shall leade alonge and make
perfect this most wonderfull Worke, which shal bee remembred to His Glory in the Church throughout all
Generations.
"And, least through any Defect upon the Generall
Assemblyes Part, the Worke of Reformation (which
hitherto, to the greate Greife of all the Godly, hath
moved soe slowly) should bee any more retarded or interrupted, they have, according to the renewed Desires of both Houses of Parliament, and theire owne
former Promises, nominated and elected Mr. Alexander Henderson, Mr. Rob't Douglas, Mr. Samuell
Rutherford, Mr. Robert Bailzie, and Mr. George Gillaspie, Ministers of God's Word, and John Earle of
Cassills, John Lord Maitland, Sir Archibald Johnston
of Warystoun, Ruleing Elders, all of them Men much
approved here, with Commission and Power to them,
or any Three of them, whereof Two shal bee Ministers, to repaire unto the Assembly of Divines, and
others of the Church of England, now sitting at Westm.
to propound, consult, treate, and conclude with them,
and with any Committees deputed by the Houses of
Parliament (if it shall seeme good to the Honnourable
Houses, in theire Wisdome, to depute any for that
End), in all such Things as may conduce to the utter
Extirpation of Popery, Prelacy, Heresy, Schisme, Superstition, and Idolatry, and for the setling of the
soe-much-desired Union of this whole Island, in One
Forme of Church Government, One Confession of
Faith, One common Catechisme, and One Directory
for the Worshipp of God, according to the Instructions
which they have received, or shall receave, from the
Commissioners of the Generall Assembly appointed
to meete at Edenburgh, from Tyme to Tyme, with the
Assemblyes Power to that End; and, as the Generall
Assembly doth most gladly and affectionatly receive,
and fully trust, the Committees and Divines sent
hither, soe doe they hereby commend the aforenamed
Commissioners not only to the like Affection and
Trust of the Assembly there, but alsoe to the Favor
and Protection of both Houses of Parliament.
"And, for the further Sattisfaction and Encouragment of theire Brethren of England, the whole Assembly in theire owne Name, and in Name of all the
particuler Churches in this Kingdome whome they represent, doe hereby Declare, That, from theire Zeale
to the Glory of God and Propagation of the Gospell, from theire Affection to the Happines of theire
Native King and of the Kingdome of England, and
from the Sense of theire owne Interest in the common
Dangers of Religion, Peace, and Liberty, they are
most willing and ready to bee united and associated
with theire Brethren, in a neerer League and solemne
Covenant, for the Maintenance of the truely Reformed
Protestant Religion against Popery and Prelacy, and
against all Popish and Prelaticall Corruptions in Doctrine, Discipline, Worshipp, or Church Government,
and for the setling and holding fast of Unity and
Uniformity betwixt the Churches of this Island, and
with the best Reformed Churches beyond Sea; which
Union and Covenant shall, by God's Assistance, bee
seconded by your co-operating with theire Brethren
in the Use of the best and most effectuall Meanes that
may serve for soe good Ends; for the more speedy
effectuating whereof, to the Comfort and Inlargment of theire distressed Brethren (whose Hope deferred might make theire Hearts to faint), the whole Assembly, with great Unanimity of Judgement and Expressions of much Affection, have approved (for
their Part) such a Draught and Forme of a mutuall
League and Covennant betwixt the Kingdomes, as was
the Result of the joynt Debates and Consultations of
the Commissioners from both Houses, assisted by
the Two Reverend Divines, and of the Committees
deputed from the Convention of the Estates of this
Kingdome and from the Generall Assembly; expecting
and wishing the like Approbation thereof by the
Right Honourable the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and by the Reverend Assembly there, that
thereafter it may be solemly sworne and subscribed
in both Kingdomes, as the surest and strictest Obligation to make both stand and fall togeather, in that
Cause of Religion and Liberty. As the States of
this Kingdome have often professed, in their former
Declarations, the Integrity of their Intentions, against
the common Enemies of Religion and Liberty in both
Kingdomes, and their great Affection to their Brethren of England, by reason of so many and so neere
Relations; soe doubtlesse, in this Tyme of Neede, they
will not faile to give reall Proofe of what before they
professed. A Freind loveth at all Tymes, and a
Brother is borne for Adversity; neither shall the Assembly or their Commissioners bee wanting in exhorting all others to theire Duty, or in concurring soe
farre as belongeth to theire Place and Vocation, with
the Estates now conveened, in any lawfull and possible Course, which may most conduce to the Good
of Religion and Reformation, the Honnor and Happines of the King's Majesty, the Deliverance of theire
Brethren of England from theire present calamitous
Condition, and to the perpetuating of a firme and
happy Peace betwixt the Kingdomes.
"A. Jhonston, Cler. Eccl."
Adjourn.
House adjourned till 10a cras.