: Eodem die, post meridiem. Sederunt :-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. John Livistoun : Mr. James Hamiltoun : Mr. John Row: Mr. James Gutterie : Mr. John Smith: Mr. Fredrik Carmichaell: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. Patrik Fleeming Mr. George Leslie: Mr. John Adamson : Mr. Robert Young: Mr. William Row: Mr. John Knox. ELDERS.-Whytbank: Mr. Alexander Peirsone Mr. Alexander Colvill: Mr. Robert Burnet: Mr. Thomas Murray William Browne: William Russell. Generall Lieutennant. The Commission of the Assembly, finding a necessity that Ministers to the some Ministers be appointed to attend Livetennent Generall David Leslie and the forces with him now in the North, Doe therefore nominat and appoint Mr. Robert Keith and Mr. John Young to repair to him for performing Ministeriall dueties to him and the forces with him, and that letters be written for this effect. some officers in Concerning the petitions of Captaine John George, Liveten- Referencenent John Home, and Livetennent James Sympsone, bearing the Engagetheir sense of their offence for their accession to the late ment. vnlawfull Engagement, and offer of satisfaction, The Comission refers them to the nixt Generall Assembly. Collonell Mont Concerning the matter of Livetennent Collonell Hew Mont- Act in favours gomery, wherein the Presbyterie of Air craves advice, The of Livetenent Comission of Assembly, after hearing of the said Leivtenent gomery. Colonell, having considered the whole bussines, Doe not find any reason why his subscription of the League and Covenant should be delet, and therefore Doe advise the said Presbyterie to accept thereof, and that the samen stand, and that he be esteemed as on admitted to the Covenant. Strachan. Concerning Major Strachan, the Commission Resolves the Major morne to consider the report of the Comittee, and finds that the paper given in by Major Strachan, being subscribed according to the amendements of the Comittee, will be verie satisfactorie and sufficient for removing the scandalls lying vpon him, and therefore appoints him to subscribe that paper, and to be hear tomorrow. The nixt meeting the morne at 8 houres. Edinburgh, 14 Martij 1649, ante meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.—Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. John Row: Mr. Fredrik Carmichell: Mr. John Adamson : Mr. Robert Young: Act for Mr. Edinburgh. Mr. John Knox: Mr. James Guttery: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. John This day, some of the Baillies of Edinburgh haveing earnestlie sones setling in desired, that a day might be appointed for Mr. James Fergussones removeing from Kilwining to setle in this toune, conforme to the Act of transportatioun formerly granted, The Commission of Assembly having seriously considered the said desire, and knowing the present necessity the towne of Edinburgh hath of moe Ministers, and the burden their present Ministers doe now sustaine, Doe therefore appoint the said Mr. James to remove from Kilwining and setle himselfe here in Edinburgh, for performing the dueties of the Ministery there, betuixt and the last Wednesday of the moneth of Maij nixt ensueing, without more delay. Major Leivtenent Scott to be cited. Report concerning the Overtures and Desires moved to the Parliament. This day the Comission, having considered the particulars concerning Major Strachan, and finding no thing proven against him, and being satisfied with his answers, but specially with the last paper subscribed with his hand, Doe therefore judge that he should be admitted to the subscribing of the League and Covenant; Lykeas the said Major Strachan, personallie present, judiciallie subscribed the League and Covenant. The Commission appoints Leivetenent Scott to be cited to the nixt quarterly meeting, to answer to the scandall lying vpon him, that he mantained a debate at Mussilburgh that a chyld of God should not pray for the pardon of sin; As also that he should have said, They wer no good Cristians that loved not Independency; And if he be in thir parts of the countrey, that he be cited to the first meeting that shall occur. The Commission continues to consider what is necessarie to do for wryting the history of these tymes, and whom to employ therein, to the nixt quarterlie meeting. This day report made by the Clerk concerning the Overtures and Desires made to the Parliament, That the Acts against Witches and Consulters,1 against fornication,1 against remissions 1 Acts of Parliaments of Scotland, vol. vi. pt. ii. p. 152. 8 3 for capital crimes,1 against swearing, drukennes, scolding, and other prophannes,2 against clandastine mariages, scandalous persons,3 goeing of mylnes, salt pans, and fishing on the Sabbath day, and against patronages ;5 and the Acts for ratifyeing the Catechisme and Confession of Faith, concerning the degrees of casuall homicide,' concerning the reducing the conversions of victuall in money, in hospitalls, and other dotations to the old foundatiouns, and for augmentatioun of Ministers stipends, their gleibs and manses, wer all past in Parliament; And that the Comission for plantation of Kirks is to be renewed to some well affected persons;10 And for the Acts concerning adulterie and incest, they are continued vntill the nixt session of Parliament. The Quære from the Presbyterie of Dumbar concerning Sir Sir James James Nicolson being this day considered, It is the advise of the Comission of the General Assembly, that the said Sir James have the benefitt of the Explanatioun of the Act concerning the admitting persons to the renewing of the Covenant, and that he be accordingly admitted to the renewing, swearing, and subscribing thereof. The nixt meeting is to be vpon advertisement from the Moderator. Edinburgh, 10 Maij 1649, post meridiem. Sederunt: MINISTERS.—Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. John Weir: Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. George Hutcheson: Mr. George Leslie : Mr. John Moncreife: Mr. Robert Traill: Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. James Nasmith: Mr. John Knox: Mr. John Maghie Mr. John Smith: Mr. William Penman: Mr. William Row: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie. ELDERS.-Sir John Cheislie: John Boswell: William Browne. 1 Acts of Parliaments of Scotland, vol. vi. pt. ii. p. 173. 3 Ibid. p. 184. 6 Ibid. p. 161. ▲ Ibid. p. 185. 2 Ibid. p. 174. 5 Ibid. p. 261. 8 Ibid. p. 183. 9 Ibid. p. 287, augmenting stipends generally to 8 chalders victual, or 3 chalders in victual and the equivalent of 5 chalders in money; providing for the erection of manses in town as well as in country parishes wherever they were still wanting, the exchanging of glebes, when distant from the manse, for others more convenient, and the designation of grass glebes. 10 Ibid. p. 300. There were also passed in the same session of Parliament: Act anent securing of religion and peace of the kingdom, p. 161; Act against the horrible crime of blasphemy; Act against worshippers of false gods, p. 231; Act against beaters and cursers of their parents, p. 231. Nicolsone. Letter from The brethren, being conveened here vpon a letter from the Moderator to consider what is incumbent to them to doe in relation to the outbreaking in the North, Therefore thinke fitt that there be a Comittee to consult and prepare the bussines, and to that effect appoints Messrs. John Moncreiff, Robert Ker, John Smith, James Hamiltoun, George Leslie, David Dickson, Patrik Gillaspie, James Nasmith, John Maghie, George Hutchesone, Sir John Cheislie, William Browne, John Boiswall; This Comittee to meet presently after dissolving. The nixt meeting the morne after sermon. Edinburgh, 11 Maij 1649, ante meridiem. Sederunt:-MINISTERS.—Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. Robert Traill: Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. George Hutcheson: Mr. John Livistoun : Mr. Alexander Dickson: Mr. John Muncreiff: Mr. Andro Wood: Mr. John Smith: Mr. John Weir: Mr. David Dickson: Mr. James Nasmith: Mr. George Leslie: Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. John Knox: Mr. William Row: Mr. John Sinclare: Mr. John Maghie: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie : Mr. William Penman: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. Ephraim Melvill. ELDERS.—Lord Wariestoun: Sir John Cheislie Dudistoun : Mr. Robert Burnet: William Browne: John Boiswall. This day a letter produced by the Moderator from our Comissioners at the Hage, togither with his Majesties letter, and the papers given to his Majestie, and his answers therevnto, which were all read, The tenor quherof followes : REVEREND AND BELOVED BRETHREN,-This is the first opporat the Hague. tunity we have had of making to yow any accompt of our proceedings. On the Thursday at night, March 22, the Lord brought ws all safe to Rotterdame. On the Fryday we went to Delph, where we though[t] meet to rest till the Munday, both because of our owne resolution to keepe on day of humiliatioun in our family for making our first addresses to God, as also because of our informatioun by some of our friends who mett ws at the Delph, that his Majestie would be taken vp with his Easter devotions till Tuesday following. We therefore on the Sabbath day did preach and pray in our family, and found the goodnes of the Lord with ws; and on the Munday did put our papers and affaires in order. At night we came to the Hage, and spoke with some friends, who are not many here. On the Tuesday 27th, in the afternoone, we went to the Court, and had a favourable acception. My Lord Cassills did speake to his Majestie in name of the Parliament and Kingdome, and Mr. Robert Baillie in name of the Church. So far as we could learne, what was spoken was taken in good part by all who heard. We then delivered our letters to his Majestie. The rest of that We had all of day and the following was spent in visiting the Queen of Bohem, the Princess Royall, the Prince of Orange, the Princesse Douager, and the States Generall. The Comissioners of Parliament found it necessarie to give in, as prævious to their Desires, a paper for removeall of James Grahame from Court. His Majesties answer, vnder his owne hand, was that he desired and expected all our Propositions togidder, to which he hoped to give a satisfactory answer. With this we wer not content, but pressed again our desire, the Comissioners of Parliament by another paper, and we also by on to second theirs, a copy whereof we send yow herewith. The Kings second answer was an abiding in the first. ws some discourse with his Majestie about the equity and necessity of that our desire. But James Grahame hes so many and so powerfull friends in the English Counsel [i.e. Council], that as yet we cannot get the King to discountenance him. On the Saturday morneing we delivered to his Majestie the Nationall Covenant, the Solemne League and Covenant, the Directory, the Confession of Faith, the Cathecise, and Propositions of Government, bound together in on book so handsomely as we could get them. We spoke some thing on the matter, and desired of his Majestie more frequent and private conferences, who shew his willingnes, and promised to send to ws to advertise of his fittest opportuntyes. On the Sunday we preached in our owne house. We thought not meet to goe to the English Congregatioun, their distractions among themselves for the present being so great, that our goeing there, we conceive, would have given offence and prejudged our affaires. On Munday we purposed to have given in our maine Desires in the paper which herewith also we send. But his Majestie was abroad in the afternoon, so we delayed till this day. We cannot yet make any judgement of the successe. The most part of the Counsell are averse from our Desires; yet we have our owne friends. His Majestie is of a very sweet and courteous disposition. It wer all the pities in the world bot he wer in good company. We hope he is not so far rooted in any principles contrary to ws bot that, by Gods blessing on our friends labours, he may be gotten to doe ws reason, quhatsoever our fears be for the present. There is a very evill generation both of English and Scotts here, who vomite |