Concerning the opposition in

the west to the 2nd levie.

of Estates that Scotland would joyne with them, and that they would prepare such Propositions as they thought fitt for that Kingdome. But to this neither wee nor our Comissioners received any answer vntill a Scotish Army had invaded this Kingdome, and then we received it with a Declaration, of which wee will say no more in this place but that considering they were bound by Treaties and Act of Parliament to give ws three moneths warning before their making warr with ws, it had been more honourable that their Declaration had rather come before then followed after their Army. By all which, and by their vigorous pursuing the raising of their Army before they sent their desires, and ever after, before they knew what answer would be returned to them by the Houses, it doth appeare that this invasion was intended and resolved vpon, let ws say or doe what wee would. Wherein they have too little considered how many obligations did lye vpon them to the contrary, how much this their Ingagement tends to the vtter ruine of poore Ireland, who, by their drawing away so many of the Brittish and other forces to joyne with them, and disinableing ws to send them releife, is exposed to eminent hazard, how much to the dishonour and danger of the Reformed Religion in all Christendome, and how highly the God of truth and peace is provocked by it; which evills, seeing we have on our parts so much laboured to prevent, wee doubt not but God will be with ws, and the prayers of his people for ws, and that those that have delt falsly in striking in hands with the comon enemie to kindle a new fire betuixt these Kingdomes shall themselves perish therein.

'Subscribitur, H. HEYNGE, Cler. PARL. D. COM.'

The brethren vnderstanding of some stirring of the well affected people of the West, in opposition to the 2nd Levies raised in prosecution of the Engagement, thinke fitt that there be a frequent meeting here vpon Wednesday cum 8 dayes, and that advertisment be sent for that effect.

Edinburgh, 6 September 1648.

Sederunt:- MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas: Mr. David Dickson: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. John Smyth: Mr. George Lesly: Mr. James

Gutterie: Mr. Robert Lawry: Mr. Thomas Vassie: Mr. John Sinclair:
Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. Hew Kennedy: Mr. Robert Blair: Mr. Samuell
Rutherfurd: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. John Weir: Mr. James Nasmyth:
Mr. Hew Mackaill: Mr. Patrik Sharpe: Mr. John Knox: Mr. William
Fullertoun Mr. John Home: Mr. Hew Archbald. ELDERS.-Lord
Angus Dundas: Rickartoun : Sir George Maxwell: Libbertoun : Inglis-
toun: Dudistoun : Mr. Alexander Colvill: Sir John Cheisly: Mr. Robert
Burnet Lawrence Henderson: George Porterfeild.

Mr. David Dickson, Mr. Robert Blair, Mr. Robert Douglas Moderator. listed, Mr. Robert Douglas choysen Moderator in absence of

Mr. George Gillaspie.

The Commission of Assembly appoints Messrs. David Dick- Committee. sone, Robert Blair, Samuell Rutherfurd, James Hamiltoun, James Gutterie, James Nasmyth, Mungo Law, John Smyth, Lord Angus, Nether Pollok, Dundas, Libbertoun, with the Moderator, to be a Comittee to consider what is incumbent to the Commission to doe at this tyme for securitie of Religion and prosecution of the Covenant, and for opposing the enemies thereof, and to report their opinions, and for that effect to sitt still in this same place after dissolving.

Correspondence

Estates, and to

take of the

The Commission appoynts Messrs. Robert Blair, Mungo Brethren to seek Law, John Smith, Dundas, and Libbertoun to goe to the with the ComComittee of Estates, now mett by Gods providence, and mittee of desire correspondence with their Lordships; as also to desire that the restraint which wes putt vpon printing by a quorum printing. of the Committee of Estates formerly sitting may be taken of, and the Kirk may enjoy their liberty of printing, which is acknowledged and approven by Acts of Parliament.

restraint of

The Commission of the Generall Assembly appoynts Mr. Mr. Henry Henry Shaw, Minister at Logie, to be cited to appeir the Shaw. morne, to answer to the particulars given in against him concerning his scandalous cariage yesternight in this towne and other miscariages; As also that Thomas Blair, James Cochrane in Air, Thomas Petticrue in Barronie of Glasgow, Mathew Wilsone in Glasgow, John Kirktoun in Barrony of Glasgow, James Campbell, John Craige, Richard Slose in Air, Patrik Mackilven, William Robertsoun, servitour to John Craig, be cited to compeir to witnesse in that matter in so farr as they know and shall be speared at them.

The nixt meeting the morne at 10 houres.

Reference, Mr.

the Visitation of

Mr. Samuell

Sederunt:-MINISTERS.—Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator.
Rutherfurd: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. James Hamiltoun :
Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. William Oliphant :
Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. Robert Blair: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. John
Knox: Mr. John Makghie: Mr. George Lesly: Mr. John Hamiltoun :
Mr. Ephram Melvill: Mr. Alexander Livistoun : Mr. Hew Peebles:
Mr. John Sinclair. ELDERS.-Lord Angus: Lord Borthwick: Mr. Robert
Barclay Lawrence Henderson: Robert Browne.

The Commission of Assembly refers and remitts the parHenry Shaw to ticulars concerning Mr. Henry Shaw to the tryall and censure of the Commissioners appointed by the late Generall Assembly for visitation of Sterling and Dumblaine.

Sterline and
Dumblane.

Letter from

Earls of Crafurd, Glencarn, and Lanerk.

Mr. John Hamiltoun and Mr. Patrik Colvill to preach in the Tron Kirk the nixt Sabbath.

The letter from Crafurd, Glencarne, and Lanerk this day read, and referred to the Comittee appointed yesterday to be considered, and they are to report their opinions. Tenor of the letter followes :

'RIGHT REVEREND,-As the difference betuixt Church and State hes been of sad consequence to this Kingdome, so it hath been a great griefe to ws; And least we should be misvnderstood by yow at this tyme as if we were intending any intestine trouble, which is as horride to ws as destructive to this poore Kingdome; Therefore wee thought fitt to shew yow the reasons of our withdrawing out of Edinburgh.

'The Comittee of Estates having thought fitt to have an frequent meeting of their number, that (by joynt advice of such as were intrusted by the Parliament with manageing the publik affaires of this Kingdome) such Resolutions might be taken as by the blessing of God the vnhappy differences betuixt Kirk and State might be removed, and such a concord and vnanimitie amongst all the well affected in this Kingdome begotten, as the great worke of Reformation so happily begun might have been caried on to the glory of God and satisfaction of all honest men. But in this meane tyme the Comittee of Estates, being advertised of some forces drawing together in the West Countrey, thought fitt to send two of their owne number

to know from them the reasons thereof, that they might apply themselfes to give reall satisfaction to all their just desires. And least there might be any engagement into action betuixt them and the forces raised by authoritie of the Parliament and Comittee of Estates, they gave command to the Earle of Lanerick to draw their forces together, which he did toward the East for preventing all accidents which might interrupt the peace of the Kingdome; And lykewyse did desire that those in the West might not advance farther Eastward: Yet they did neverthelesse with such celeritie advance towards Edinburgh as the Comittee thought fitt to adjourne. And wee being informed that a considerable party of the Army were vpon the borders, wee conceived it fitt to repair thither, where our endeavours with them shall be to follow such resolutions as may most tend to the good and peace of this Kingdome, and the preventing of all civil dissentions. This being our clear intention, we could not thinke vpon any more effectuall course, for prosecuteing thereof, then to addresse ourselfes to yow, as to the messengers of peace, that by your meanes and labours some such course may be taken, as all rents and breaches may be souldered vp, and a tymeous remedy applyed to the present evills wherewith this Kingdome is threatned both from within and from abroad; For obtaining whereof we shall be so farr from doeing anything which may interrupt that so much desired end, as we shall make it our greatest endeavour to follow such councells from yow as may tend therevnto. And in regard the lying of the forces near togither will be of great prejudice to this part of the countrey and those places where they shall lye, wee therefore desire your advice and answer herevnto may be speadily returned, as yow would prevent the sad consequences of an vnnaturall warre, which might make this Kingdome a reproach to their enemies, and render it a prey to the prevailing sectaries in England. Wee rest, Your affectionat friends and servants,

Paper to the
Committee of
Estates.

Edinburgh, 8 September 1648.

Sederant :-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas, Moderator. Mr. Thomas Wassie: Mr. Hew Mackaill: Mr. George Lesly: Mr. Patrik Gillaspie : Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. James Nasmyth: Mr. Ephram Melvill: Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. George Bennet: Mr. Fredrick Carmichell: Mr. Kenneth Logie: Mr. David Dickson: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. Samuell Rutherfurd: Mr. John Hamiltoun: Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. John Makghie Mr. William Foullertoun: Mr. Hew Archbald: Mr. Thomas Kircaldy Mr. John Muncreiff: Mr. John Sinclare: Mr. Hew Peebles. ELDERS.-Lord Borthwick: Sir William Carmichaell: Nidry: Sir James Hacket: Libbertoun: Dundas: Dudistoun : Mr. Alexander Colvill: George Porterfeild: Lawrence Henderson.

:

The Comission approves the Paper to be given to the Comittee, and appoynts Messrs. David Dickson, George Lesly, Saumell Rutherfurd, and James Nasmyth, Dundas, and Libbertoun to present it; Tenor whereof followes :

'MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIPS,-Amongst the many sadd afflictions wherewith the Lord hath exercised this land of late, vnto ws it wes not one of the least that most of those who wer intrusted with the publik affaires of this Kingdome did not only break off wonted correspondence with the judicatories of the Kirk in those things which concerned Religion and the Covenant, but did also stoppe their eares and harden their hearts against all the faithfull warnings and healthsome admonitions of the servants of Jesus Christ, and with an high hand engaged in an vnlawfull warre against the Kingdome of England, which hath brought vpon their Armie a sudden and sore overthrow, as a testimony of the Lords heavy indignatioun and sore displeasure against the despysers of his Word; And amongst many seasonable mercies wherewith the Lord now visiteth his afflicted people wee esteeme it to be a very great one that your Lordships, who by Gods Providence were nominat by the Parliament to be members of the Comittee of Estates, are now mett together for managing of publik affaires, being perswadit that yow will intertain that wonted correspondence that wes betuixt State and Kirk in the day wherein it went well with both, and that yow will hearken to the voyce of the Lords Word, and to the warnings of his servants. Wee shall not now trouble your Lordships with many things, least wee should take vp too much of your time when publik affaires call for so much diligence and