and hopes for so much as was not as yet granted All these made us confidently to expect from his Majestes Royall and compassioned disposition towards this his native Kingdome that a free Generall Assembly and Parliament should have beene indicted as the ordinary and most proper remedies of our grievances and did constraine us to renew our petition earnestly intreating that his Majesties Commissioner would be pleased to represent unto his Majesty the condition of this Kirk and Kingdome crying in an extreme exigencie for present helpe with the lawfulnesse of the remedies prescribed by his Majesties Lawes required by us and presented to him in some particular Articles which his Grace promised to recommend to his Majestie and to doe his best endeavours for obtaining the same especially the first Article that there might be indicted a full and free Generall Assembly without prelimitation either in the constitution and members thereof in the order and manner of proceeding or in the matters to be treated And if there should be any question or doubt about one of these or such like particulars that the determination thereof might be remitted to the Assembly it selfe as the only proper and competent judge And now after so many supplications complaints articles and informations after our necessary protestation expressing the humble thankfulnesse and continued desires of our hearts after so long expectation and so much dealing having with open eares and attentive minds heard his Majesties Proclamation it is our desire purpose and endevour so to proceed that we may upon the one part still be thankfull to God and the King for the least blinke of his Majesties countenance and the smallest crums of comfort that fall unto us from his Majesties Royall hands beseeching the Lord yet further to enlarge his Majesties heart for our full satisfaction and rejoycing to the honour of God the good of this Kirk and Kingdome and his Majesties never dying fame and glory that his wise government and zeale to the service of God may be a measure and pattern of desires to all generations hereafter when they shall be wishing for a religious and righteous King And on the other part that Christ our Lord the King of Kings through our neglect or luke-warmnesse may want no part of his Soveraignty and Dominion and that in our Religion which is more dear unto us then our lives we deceive not our selves with that which cannot satisfie and make up the breach of this Kirke and Kingdome or remove our feares doubts and suspicions of the innovations of Religion This hath made us to observe and perceive that his Majesties Proclamation doth ascribe all the late distractions of this Kirke and Common-wealth to our conceived feares of the innovation of Religion and Law as the cause and occasion thereof and not to the innovations themselves with which we have beene for a long time and especially of late heavily pressed and grieved as if the cause were rather in apprehension and fancie then in reality and substance That the Service book and booke of Canons are not so far discharged by this Proclamation as they have beene urged by preceding Proclamations for this Proclamation onely dischargeth the practice of them and rescinds the Acts made for establishing their practice but doth not rescind the former Proclamations namely that of the 19. of February at Stirling and that of the fourth of July at Edinburgh which give an high approbation to these Books as fit meanes to maintaine Religion and to beat down all superstition and withall declares his Majesties purpose to bring them into this Kirk in a faire and legall way And thus both our feares that they may be introduced hereafter must still remaine and the libertie of the Generall Assembly by such a Declaration of his Majesties judgement is not a little prejudged in the minds of so many as wisely consider and compare the preceding Proclamations with this which we now heare although others who looking upon one step and not upon the whole progresse run on rashly and neither considering what they are doing nor with whom they are dealing may be easily deceived Qui pauca videt citò judicat a short sight maketh a sudden judgement That it is declared in this Proclamation That his Majesty neither intendeth to innovate any thing in Religion or Lawes or to admit of any change or alteration in the true Religion already established and professed in this Kingdome and withall this is interposed That the articles of Pearth are established by the acts of Parliament and generall Assembly and dispensation of the practice only granted and discharge given that no person be urged with the practice thereof and consequently his Majesties intention for the standing of the Acts of the Assembly and Parliament appointing the Articles of Pearth is manifest which is no small prejudice to the freedome of the Generall Assembly That while the Proclamation ordaineth all his Majesties subjects to be liable to the triall and censure of the judicatories competent and that none of them shall use any unlimited and unwarranted power likewise that no other oath be administred to Ministers at their entrie then that which is contained in the Act of Parliament in both these Articles the Bishops are meaned who are only thereby for the present curbed against their exorbitancie and enormities in exercing their office but the office of Bishops is thereby not only presupposed as unquestionable but also so strongly established that his Majestie declareth for the present his intention to admit no innovation therein which is more evident by the indiction of the Parliament warning all Prelats to be present as having voice and place in Parliament and by the indiction of the Assembly warning all Archbishops and Bishops for so are their divers degrees and offices Ecclesiasticall here designed and supposed to be present as having place and voyce in the Assembly contrary to the caveats acts of the Kirk and our declinator And thus a third and great limitation is put upon the Generall Assembly The Proclamation by reason of these many reall limitations and prejudices of the liberty of the Assembly in the very points which have wrought so much woe and disturbance in this Kirk and Kingdome and wherein the liberty of the Assembly is most usefull and necessary at this time can neither satifie our grievances and complants nor remove our feares and doubts nor cannot without protestation be admitted by us his Majesties subjects who earnestly desire that Truth and Peace may be established and that for the reasons following 1. TO keepe silence in any thing that may serve for the good of the Kirk whether it be in preaching prayer or in proposing and voyceing in a lwfull Assembly of the Kirke is against the word of God Esai 62.6 Yee that are the Lords remembrancers keepe not silence and give him no rest till he establish and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth 1. King 18.21 Like the halting of the
forme and the honour of Religion then for any use or necessitie of it all the former Lawes still standing in force and vigour without the need of any new ratification At this time many of Our subjects of greatest qualitie were suitors to Us for new Titles of Honour Gentlemen to bee Lords Lords to bee Earles Impossible it was for Us to satisfie all suitors in that kinde without the prostitution of Honour to a just and open contempt and therefore being put upon a choice and selection We held it fitter in the point both of honour and justice to passe by such as both privately in their secret meetings and openly in the Parliament house had shewed their disrepects to Us and Our just proceedings then those who had carried themselves not only loyally and dutifully but affectionately and heartily to Us and Our service Upon this occasion many of those who were then passed by and are now principall Covenanters seeing others advanced to degrees of honour above themselves begun then presently to mutter but not to mutinie untill We were gone from thence But scarsly were We well returned into England when the discontent of these men resolved it selfe into a plaine sedition For then they had the impudence to give it out that voyces were bought and packed in the late Parliament nay that the voyces were not truely numbred but that some Acts were past without pluralitie of suffrages A calumnie so foule and blacke as that they themselves did know it to be most false For had there beene the least suspicion of truth in it they might have made tryall thereof by surveying their owne papers and the papers of many hundreds present who took notes of the number of voyces which were given either by assenting to or disassenting from the severall Acts read and proposed by which papers if they had found but the weakest ground for this their strong but false report We have no reason to thinke that either their mercie or modestie was such that they would have forborne the calling of the Clerke of Our Register in question for it it being as our Chancellors office to aske the voyces so Our Clerke of Registers office to take them and record them and according to his owne and his Clerkes notes who assist him to pronounce the Act passed or stopt In which it is impossible he should deale but with sinceritie for else the notes taken by most of the Auditors being a present and powerfull conviction of his false dealing must presently transmit him to highest Censure and punishment But knowing that in a publike and judiciall way they must needs faile in their proofe of this calumnie they betook themselves to the secret and seditious way of malecontents For first they used clancularie surmises then they sent about from hand to hand a clandestine infamous Libell and by it they impoysoned the hearts of many of Our good subjects with a suspicion of obliquitie in Our proceedings at the late Parliament This infamous Libell comming to the knowledge of Our Privie Councell there first they of themselves then afterwards having made Us acquainted with it by Our commandement entred into an inquirie both of the authors and abetters of that seditious Libell Who found that the author upon whom it was shifted and fathered was one Hagge then and still fugitive but that the abetters countenancers and dispersers of it were many and some of them of greatest qualitie and now principall Covenanters Wee out of our innate and usuall clemencie were graciously pleased that the feare and example might reach to all but the punishment onely to one of them to passe by many who undoubtedly had beene concluded and involved by Our Lawes in the same sentence if Wee had proceeded against them and to single out one of that ranke who was most obliged to Us and Our Crowne and therefore both for his ingratitude and crime had no reason to expect any thing from Us but the justice of Our lawes This one was the Lord Balmerino his Father was principall Secretary of State for that Our Kingdome to Our Father of happy memory to whom he was beholden both for the honour of his Baronie and for his whole fortune and estate which he got in his service But he was since Our Royall Father his comming to the Crowne of England arraigned for and attainted of high Treason in Scotland found guilty of it by his Peeres and accordingly received sentence to be hanged drawne and quartered his bloud tainted his whole estate forfeited to the Crowne Yet such was the gracious clemencie of Our Royall Father that He onely for a little time continued this condemned and forfeited Lord in prison afterward confined him but to a large circuit and then restored not onely the bloud of himselfe and his children but also their honour and whole estate Now this present Lord Balmerino being so extraordinarily obliged to Our Royall Father and Our Crowne for the life of his father his owne honour and whole fortunes and so being one from whom We the sonne of that Royall and Gracious Father to him and his whole family had no reason to expect perfidiousnesse and ingratitude he could not have the least shew of reason to expect any favour from Us but the favour of a faire and legall tryall which We granted him At that tryall and arraignment he was by his Peeres found guilty of abetting and dispersing that infamous Libell made against Us and accordingly was to receive sentence of death for it which Our chiefe Justice respited onely untill Our pleasure might bee knowne Then indeed they who afterwards proved the contrivers of the late Covenant and their adherents begun to complaine of the hard measure which was offered to this Lord and to lay false and wicked aspersions upon his Peeres who found him guilty but finding that all the proceedings were usuall and legall they could not but have acquit the Judge if hee should have condemned him nor could they have found the least blemish in Our justice if Wee should have given warrant both for his sentence and execution whose life was now legally devolved into Our hands and therefore this convicted Lord betook himselfe onely to Our mercie which We shewed to him in that height as Wee are confident it is hardly to be patterned by any president For notwithstanding the head of this family which was first raised by Our Father and then being falne yet raised by Him againe and now relapsed was once againe brought under Our axe as it had beene before brought under the axe of Our Royall Father We desirous to shew Our selfe the true heire of none of Our blessed Fathers vertues more then of his mercie and clemencie were contented upon his deep protestations of loyaltie for the time to come to grant him under Our great Seale for that Our Kingdome not onely a Pardon of that crime of which he stood convicted but also his full libertie and inlargement Which gracious Pardon of Ours when
that barbarous insurrection which was raised the next day sufficiently testifie On the eighteenth of October 1637. the Bishop of Galloway and Sir VVilliam Elfinston Lord chiefe Justice of that Our Kingdome being appointed by the Lords of Our Councell to examine witnesses in a cause depending before them betweene Francis Stuart sonne to the late Earle of Bothwell and divers others the Bishop was peaceably passing along the street towards the Councell-house where the examinations were to be taken But suddenly an inraged multitude surrounded him and followed him with fearfull cursings and exclamations close to the Councell-house doore where hee was againe incountred afresh with a new troupe who watched and lay in wait for his comming thither and whose furie exceeded words for in all probabilitie the Bishop had beene pulled in peeces by them if by divine providence he had not beene defended by the said Francis Stuart who with much adoe got the Bishop within the doores of the Councell-house where Our Lord chiefe Justice staied for him But when hee was there that place of highest Reverence within that Our Kingdome was no Sanctuarie for him for they continued demanding his person and threatning him with death The report hereof and the danger of their Lords life was brought by some of the Bishops servants presently to the Earle of Traquair Our Lord Treasurer and the Earle of Wigton one of the Lords of Our Councell who were then at a lodging not farre from thence They came presently with their followers to the reliefe of the Bishop but verie hardly for the croud of the mutiners could approach the Councell-house where hee was at last when with much adoe they got entrance they found themselves in no better case then the Bishop was for the peoples furie meeting with no proportionable resistance increased the more The Lords thus beset in Our Councell-house sent privately to the Lord Provost Bailiffes and Councell of Edinburgh who were then assembled in their owne Councell-house requiring them to come to their rescue and to take some present order for their safetie They by one Sir Thomas Thompson who indeed was an eye witnesse of the truth of it returned this answer That they were in the same if not a worse case themselves if the Lords without did not presently pacifie the inraged multitude that the whole streets were pestred with disorderly people that their Councell-house was beset without and thronged within with their owne threatning Citizens who had vowed to kill all within their house unlesse they did presently subscribe to a paper presented to them which for feare of their lives they were forced to doe Which paper contained these three particulars First that they should joyne with them in opposition to the Service Book and in petitioning Us for that purpose Secondly that by their authoritie they should presently restore unto their Pulpits and places Master Ramsey and Rollock their two silenced Ministers Thirdly that they should restore unto his place one Henderson a silenced Reader No doubt three most important grounds for such a fearfull sedition No better answer being returned the Lord Treasurer and the Earle of Wigton with their followers resolved to go up to the Towne Councell-house and to use the uttermost of their authoritie or if that found no respect their best perswasions for settling the present sedition When they came thither they found the Magistrates verie much discomposed greatly perplexed as much doubting whether they should ever escape from the place with their lives yet they presently entred into consultation with them about what was fittest to be done in such an exigent and finding now that the publike divulging of that paper which the Magistrates and Councell of the Citie had subscribed and that the open proclamation of it throughout all their turbulent troupes and at the Crosse had a little asswaged their furious rage the Lords begun to advise with the Magistrates what was best to bee done for the safetie of the Bishop of Galloway whom they had left besieged in the Councell-house It was thought fit by all that the Lords should returne to Our Councell-house and containe themselves therein till the Magistrates might try what they could do for calming the commotion in the streets But no sooner had the Lords presented themselves to the streets but they were received with such violence as they were forced to retire untill such time as two of the Bailiffes with their Serjeants and Officers and such others as they got to attend them accompanying the Lords and repeating to the multitude what had beene yeelded to in the paper exhibited to them a little way was made at first But presently when they entred upon the great street the barbarous multitude run most inragedly upon them Their out-cries were horrible and confused but were as much as in such a confusion could be distinguished God defend all those who will defend Gods cause and God confound the Service Book and all the maintainers of it The Lords being in present and imminent danger assured the people that they would represent their grievances to Us for when they perceived that the people refused to obey any commandement which was laid upon them in Our name and that they sleighted their requiring of them to retire unto their owne houses and to behave themselves as quiet and good subjects under paine of Our highest displeasure they were glad then to betake themselves to intreaties and plausible perswasions but all in vaine For the people still increased their furie and that to such a height as that the Lord Treasurer was throwne downe his hat cloak and white staffe pulled from him so that if by the strength of some about him he had not beene presently pulled up againe upon his feet he had undoubtedly been trode to death and in that posture without hat or cloak like a notorious malefactour was he carried by the croud to Our Councell-house doore where the Bishop of Galloway and others of Our Councell were imprisoned in great feare and expecting the Lords returne for their reliefe Not long after the Provost and Bailiffes came thither to them told them they had used their uttermost power and perswasions with the best ablest and of the prime esteeme of all their Citizens for the appeasing of the present tumult and securing their Lordships persons but could finde no concurrence nor obedience Whereupon the Lords resolved to send for some of the Noblemen and Gentrie and others who were now frequently assembled for assisting the petition against the Service Book to try what help they would or could contribute for quieting the inraged people and what assistance they might expect from them in freeing them from the present danger They being sent for came to the Lords and declared unto them how much they were unsatisfied with the present mutinie offered their persons and power for securing them from all violence which the Lords in Our Councell-house accepting of with much adoe being guarded by them whom the people
complete body exhorted them to stand by the Confession of Faith as it was sworn in 1581. After he had done Our Commissioner desired the Moderatour to say prayer and so to dismisse the Assembly which he was about to doe but was hindered by the Lords who fell againe with new perswasions to urge Our Commissioners stay with them which he answered with so much expression of griefe for there misdemeanours which had necessarily inforced this rupture that verie many of the Assembly seemed to be much moved with it When nothing could perswade his stay at last some of the Lords told him that fearing this rupture they had a protestation ready against what he had said and done which they desired him to heare read which so soone as the Clerk begun to read Our Commissioner repeated his former protestation adding in expresse words that in Our name hee dissolved the Court under the higest paines and so came out with the Lords of Our Councell leaving the Clerk reading their protestation When he came to the Church doore he found it shut so that some of his company were glad to force it open No sooner was he gone but the Lord Areskyn eldest son to the Earle of Marr stood up and made this wise speech not without teares My Lords and the rest my heart hath beene long with you I will dallie no more with God I begge to bee admitted into your blessed Covenant and pray you all to pray to God for me that he would forgive me for dallying with him so long Three others of meaner qualitie desired the same and so all those foure were presently admitted into their Covenant These men at least the Lord Areskyn were resolved to enter into their Covenant long agoe but were reserved on purpose for doing of it at that houre for the greater glory of their Covenant For no sooner had they sworn the Moderator received them by the hand but presently he desired the whole audience to admire Gods approbation and sealing of their proceedings that even at that instant when they might have feared some shrinking and back-sliding because of the present rupture He had moved the hearts of these men to begge admittance into their blessed societie Immediatly after divers stood up and spake but all much about one and to this sense They had seene how carefull and punctuall Our Commissioner was like a good servant faithfully to serve Us his Master and to observe Our instructions speaking withall much to his singular commendation how much more then ought they to be carefull to bee found faithfull in following his instructions who was Master as to all themselves so even to him who was Our Commissioners Master These speeches being ended two things were immediately put to the question First whether notwithstanding Our Commissioners departure and protestation they would adhere to their owne protestation and continue the Assembly They all voyced affirmatively except the Lord Carnaegie Commissioner from the Presbyterie of Brichen Sir John Carnaegie Commissioner from the Presbyterie of Arbroath two Ministers Commissioners from the Presbyterie of Strabogie the lay Elder and Ministers Commissioners from the Presbyterie of Peebles Doctor Strang Principall of the Colledge of Glasgow Doctor Baroune Commissioner from the Universitie of S. Andrewes with some others who refused to sit with them any longer The second was whether the Assembly though discharged by Our Commissioner was competent Judge to the Bishops and whether they would goe on in their tryall notwithstanding the reasons conteyned in their Declinator and this passed affirmatively without one contrarie voyce and so for that night the Assembly was dismissed Our Commissioner after he had left the Assemblie that very night though late assembled Our Councell none were absent except the Earle of Argyle who made some excuse and pretence for his not comming and the Lord Almond who was then sick Two things Our Councell resolved on first to write unto Us a letter of thanks for those gracious proffers which Wee by Our Commissioner had made at the Assembly Next to draw up a Proclamation for the dissolving of the Assembly Their Letter here followeth Most Sacred Soveraigne IN obedience to your Majesties Royall commands we have attended your Majesties Commissioner here at Glasgow since the 17. of this instant and according to our bound dutie in so exigent occasion have not been wanting with our humble and best advices And although wee doe remit the particular relation of what is past to his Graces selfe as best knowne to him yet we cannot for truths sake be so silent as not acknowledge to your Majestie that never servant did with more industry care judgement and patience goe about the discharge of so great a trust And albeit the successe hath not answered his desires neither yet his extraordinarie paines and as wee may confidently affirme most dexterous and advised courses taken to compasse the just command of so gracious a King yet his deserving herein merits to be remembred to posteritie And since your Majesty hath been pleased to renew to us your former act of grace expressed in your Proclamation and Declaration anent the maintenance of the true Religion and we in the defence and profession thereof wee doe all in humilitie and hearty acknowledgement of so great goodnesse returne to your Majesty the offer of our lives and fortunes in defence of your Sacred person and maintenance of your Royall Authority and shall in all our actions approve our selves your Majesties most loyall subjects and humble servants Sic subscribitur Traquaire Roxburgh Marre Murray Lithgow Perth Wigtoun Kingorne Tullibardin Haddington Galloway Annandaile Lauderdail Kinnoul Dumfreis Southesk Angus Elphinstoun Naper Dalyell Hay W. Elphinstoun Ja. Carmichael Hamiltoun Blackhall From Glasgow Novem. 28. 1638. TO this Letter the Lord of Argyle refused to set his hand Next morning the Proclamation was signed by Our Commissioner and Councell but the Earle of Argyle refused to signe it as before hee had done the Letter The Proclamation here followeth CHARLES by the grace of God King of Scotland England France and Ireland Defender of the Faith To Our Lovits Heraulds Pursevants Our Sheriffes in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute greeting Forsameikle as out of the royall and fatherly care which We have had of the good and peace of this Our ancient and native Kingdome having taken to Our serious consideration all such things as might have given contentment to Our good and loyall subjects And to this end had discharged by Our Proclamation the Service Booke Booke of Canons and high Commission freed and liberate all men from the practising of the five Articles made all Our subjects both ecclesiasticall and civill liable to the censure of Parliament generall Assembly or any other Judicatorie competent according to the nature and qualitie of the offence and for the free entrie of Ministers that no other oath be administrate unto them then that which is contained in the Act of Parliament had declared all by-gone
all former Protestations and every one of them made in the name of the Noblemen Barons Gentlemen Ministers and Commons respectivè for the time So wee may have his Majesties royall approbation to this present Assemblie whole Acts and constitutions thereof and all our proceedings and behaviour in this businesse which wee assuredly expect from his Majesties imbred pietie justice and bountie notwithstanding the sinistrous untrue informations whispered in his Royall yeares in the contrarie Upon all which Premises and Protestation foresaid which is the same with the former made by us at Glasgow the 29. of November last but so farre differing as was necessarie for answer to the new additions contained in this Proclamation and clearing us of the aspersions wherewith we are changed therein which we might lawfully do having protested for this libertie in respect of our surprisall one certaine number of all qualities and ranks for themselves and in name foresaid asked instruments This was done in presence of a great confluence of people upon the mercate crosse of Edinburgh the 18. day of December FINIS Revised according to the ordinance of the generall Assemblie by me Master Archibald Jhonston Clerk thereto At Edinburgh 8. Jan. 1639. NOt long after this Our Proclamation and their Protestation Our Commissioner seeing all things tending to a present rupture begun his journie according to the leave which We had granted him for his returne After which time and ever since they have throughout the whole Kingdome by threatnings made the Acts of their unlawfull Assembly to be received in many places have perswaded the reception of them by force and armes have levied souldiers and imposed taxes upon Our subjects for payment of them have required of Our Judges or Lords of the Session to approve their Acts though none of them consented to it have threatned and menaced them for refusing of it have raised divers fortifications in Our Kingdome have blocked up Our Castles and Forts and now at last forcibly taken Our Castle of Edinburgh have at home got their Preachers most seditiously and rebelliously to teach Our people that there is a necessitie of their carrying armes against Us under paine of perjurie and damnation have scattered abroad especially here in England divers infamous Libels justifying their own wicked and rebellious courses inciting Our people here to attempt the like rebellion and to deface Our Ecclesiasticall government When the contrivers of that wicked Covenant first framed and devised it and perswaded others who were well perswaded of their pietie to enter into it We dare appeale even to their owne consciences whether they did ever make the seduced people acquainted with their intentions of abolishing Episcopall government introducing of lay-Elders which are the onely two things they make the seduced people beleeve they now stand upon And We do wonder there should be any man found in the world who can hold it a sufficient warrant for Our subjects to take armes against Us their lawfull Soveraign because We will not give them leave to abolish some things which stand fully established by Our Lawes and Acts of Parliament of that Kingdome and to introduce other things which are interdicted and prohibited by the same But much more have We reason to thinke Our subjects did them no whit beleeve that though We should relieve all their grievances just or pretended as now We have done they should yet be forced to acts of rebellion and carrying of armes against Us as now they are But such hath ever been the constant course of the Heads of all rebellions to ingage their followers by degrees to conceale from them their maine and wicked ends which being at the first discovered would be abhorred and detested untill they have gone on so farre in following their Leaders as afterward they are easily perswaded by them that there is no hope of pardon left and so nothing but danger if they shall offer to retreat The very same course hath been held in this rebellion for seducing of Our subjects of that Kingdome The specious pretence used by the contrivers of the Covenant to the people was Religion but that which was intended by them was a Rebellion grounded upon the discontents of some few And the very meanes whereby they have fomented their factious waies and kept up in Our people a beliefe that they intended onely Religion as they pretended have been the very same which have been usually practised by other discontented mutiners But yet We find that the principall meanes used to foment this Rebellion by the Heads of it have been these three First the seditious prayers and sermons of some Preachers suborned by them for that purpose who made the people still beleeve that all they said was Gospel and they crying up in their Pulpits that Covenant and most bitterly exclaiming against all opposers of it with the most vile and reproachfull termes they could devise wrought the people to an incredible good opinion of all that favoured the Covenant and a bad one of all those who opposed it So that such things were delivered in their Pulpits as cannot be related without both shame and horrour One of them upon Our Commissioners comming home prayed God to deliver them from all crafty compositions Another refused to pray in the Church for Sir William Nesbett late Provost of Edinburgh when hee was lying upon his death-bed onely because he had not subscribed the Covenant Another prayed God to scatter them all in Israel and to divide them in Jacob who had counselled Us to require the Confession of faith to bee subscribed by Our authoritie Many Ministers would not admit to the Communion those who had not subscribed their Covenant but in their exhortation before it barred them in expresse termes with adulterers slanderers and blasphemers c. Others would not suffer children to bee baptized in the Churches of those Ministers who were not of the Covenant though they were their owne Parish Churches but carried them sometimes many miles to be baptized by Covenanting-Ministers One preached That all the Non-subscribers of the Covenant were Atheists and so concluded That all the Lords of Our Councell and all the Lords of Our Session were such for none of them had subscribed it Another preached That as the wrath of God never was diverted from his people untill the seven sonnes of Saul were hanged up before the Lord in Gibeon so the wrath of God would never depart from that Kingdome till the twice seven Prelates which makes up the number of the Bishops in that Kingdome were hanged up before the Lord there which is extreme foule and barbarous Another preached That though there were never so many Acts of Parliament against the Covenant yet it ought to be maintained against them all Another delivered these words in his Sermon Let us never give over till we have the King in our power and then He shall see how good subjects we are Another in his Sermon delivered this That the bloudiest and