ment for correspondence; And the Comission appoints Messrs. David Dicksone, Robert Blair, Samuell Rutherfoord, Robert Baillie, John Hamiltoun, James Guthrie, James Durhame, Patrik Gillaspie, John Robiesone, Mungo Law, William Jameson, James Nasmith, John Nevoy, Hew M'Kaell, George Leslie, Lord Angus, Lord Southhall, Inglistoun, Mr. Robert Burnet, Mr. Alexander Skeene, with the Moderator, to be a Comittee for considering of the said letters and papers, and comparing them with their former Instructions, and what answer in their oppinion is fitt to be returned, and to conferre with the Comittee of Parliament therevpon, and to report. Followes the tenor of the letters and papers.

20

did Letter from the the with the King to

Commissioners

"REVEREND AND LOVING BROTHER,-By our last we comunicat vnto yow a double of our Propositions to King; In answer wherevnto wee received a paper vpon the the Moderator, 30 of this moneth, a double whereof we herewith send yow. Wee are now about to give in a paper containing the formall assurance for performing the promised satisfaction according to our Instructions, in some particulars whereof (especially anent the appending of the Declaratioun to the Covenants) we apprehend there will be great difficulty; wherein, notwithstanding, we shall, by the Lords assistance, do our vtmost endeavours. However it be verie probable that matters will cum to a close here; yet we dare not confidentlie averre it. It is desired by the King and all here that things be kept vp till yee hear further, seing the safety of the Kings person is conceived to be so much concerned in it. Yet wee account it our duety to acquaint yow with the progresse, that yee, being vpon the place, may make vse of it, as the Lord shall direct yow. To whose grace we commend yow, and are,

'Direct :-For our Reverend and Loving Brother, Mr. Robert Douglas, Minister at Edinburgh.'

"CHARLES R.,

Kings Answer to the Commis

'His Majestie having received the Proposition following sioners.

Letter from the Commissioners to the Moderator,

from the Commissioners of the Kirk of Scotland by a paper,

25 of March

bearing date at Breda the
Earle of Cassills and Mr. Alexander Brodie, and by Mr. John
Livingstoun, Mr. James Wood, and Mr. George Hutche-
sone, viz. :

4 of Aprill 1650, signed by the

"That your Majestie would be pleased to assure and declare by your solemne oath and subscription your allowance and approbation of the Nationall Covenant of Scotland, and of the Solemne League and Covenant of Scotland, England, and Ireland; And that yow doe faithfullie oblige yourselfe to prosecute the ends thereof in your Royall station and calling; And that yow will for yourselfe and your successours consent and aggree to all Acts of Parliament enjoyning the Nationall Covenant and the Solemne League and Covenant, and fullie establishing Presbyteriall Government of the Kirk, the Directorie of Worship, Confession of Faith, and Catechismes in the Kingdome of Scotland, as they are already approven by the Generall Assembly and Parliament of that Kingdome; And that yow will give your Royall assent to Acts of Parliament enjoyning the same in the rest of your Dominions; And that, laying aside the vse of the Service Book, yow will observe these in your owne practise and family; And shall never make opposition to any of them, nor endeavour any change thereof: " Doth consent to this Proposition in terminis.' 'Aprill the 30th, 1650.'

'REVEREND AND LOVING BROTHER,-Ours on Monday last made accompt of what was before that day. On Twesday we gott a letter from the King to the Comission of the Kirk. That day afternoon we gave in a paper, and gott yesternight an answer vnder the Kings hand, the copy of all which is here inclosed. Some things are yet in debate, and so soon as anything is fully concluded, yow shall be particularly advertised. Only in the meanetyme wee thought it our duety that so much sould be communicat to yow in a private way by

Your loving brethren,

Sic subscribitur,

Breda,
Aprill 25, old stile,

1650.

Jo. LIVINGSTONE,
JAMES WOOD,

CASSILLIS,

A. BRODIE,

G. HUCHESONE.'

the Commis

'MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTIE,—Wee, the Commissioners of A paper from the Kirk of Scotland, haveing received your Majesties answere, sioners to the bearing date Aprill 30th, wherein your Majestie is graciously Kings Majestie, pleased to consent in terminis to our Desire, presented vpon the

25 March

4 Aprill
in name of that Kirk, Doe hereby declare our humble
and thankfull acknowledgement of this your Majesties so
gratious an answere; And we doe, from the bottome of our
hearts, blesse the God of Heaven for inclineing your Royall
heart therevnto, taking the same as a part of a mercifull re-
turne to the prayers which we and the rest of the Lords people
in your Majesties dominions have been pouring out before
Him on your Majesties behalfe, and as an hopefull earnest
that He will also give what remaines thereof, to His owne
glory, an happy setling of your Majesty vpon your Thrones,
and the peace and confort of all your Dominions. And now
having this day received from your Majestie a letter directed
to the Comission of the Generall Assembly, signifying your
Majesties resolution to receive informatioun from them, and
to follow their advice in such things as shall be further neces-
sarie, wee doe in all humility present to your Majestie the way
and forme wherein they have already expresly instructed ws
humbly to desire that your Majestie would be pleased to per-
forme the satisfaction graciously promised in your answer,
which is,

"That your Majestie would be pleased to sweare and subscrybe the Covenants in the words of a Declaration subjoyned to both, a copy whereof we have here ready to exhibite to your Majestie, humbly begging that, if it seem not convenient to your Majestie to performe it here, it would please your Majestie to declare vnto ws, that your Majestie will performe the same as soone as it shall please the Lord to bring your Majestie to the Kingdome of Scotland: Which if your Majestie shall be pleased to doe, as it will be to ws a further token of the Lords hearing of our prayers on your Majesties behalfe, so it will be a further meanes effectually to begett a full confidence between your Majestie and your good subjects (which is most necessarie in the present juncture of affaires), and to enlarge their hearts

His Majesties answer to that paper.

An vther letter to the Mode

rator.

to receive and imbrace your Majestie with all greatest joy and gladnesse.

'His Majestie doth declare, in verbo Principis, that, as soone as he cometh to the Kingdome of Scotland, he will solemnly sweare and subscribe the Oath and Declaration following:

'I, Charles, King of Great Britane, France, and Ireland, Doe assure and declare by my solemne Oath in the presence of Almighty God, the Searcher of hearts, my allowance and approbation of the Nationall Covenant and of the Solemne League and Covenant; And faithfully oblige myselfe to prosecute the ends thereof in my station and calling; And that I for myselfe and successors shall consent and agree to all Acts of Parliament enjoyning the National Covenant and the Solemne League and Covenant, and fully establishing Presbyteriall Government, the Directory of Worship, Confession of Faith, and Catechismes in the Kingdome of Scotland, as they are approven by the Generall Assembly of this Kirk and Parliament of this Kingdome; And that I shall give my Royall assent to Acts of Parliament enjoyning the same in the rest of my Dominions; And that I shall observe these in my owne practise and family; And shall never make opposition to any of these, or endeavour any change thereof.'

'Maij 4th, 1650.'

'Reverend and LOVING BROTHER,-By ours on Thursday last we imparted to yow all that was done before that day by ws. We are prepareing a paper to show our sense of all that was comunicated to ws by the King, and our advyce anent his company to Scotland, which is not yet given. But since that tyme the King hath granted so much to the Comissioners of the State as they fand a ground to give in1 invitation to go to Scotland. The particulars will be imparted to yow by the bearer, Mr. James Dalrumple. Possiblie endeavours may

1 Sic for an or him.

be vsed toward some cheefe Members of Parliament, that the Kings annulling of the peace and toleration to the Irish may be delayed, and that his subscribing of the Declaratioun for the Covenants may be accepted apart, and not appended to them. But we trust yow will, in such a way as yow thinke fittest, bestir yourselfe that such things be not dispensed with. Letters are sent from the Commissioners of the State to my Lord Chancellour, my Lord Argyle, and my Lord Wariston, which wee know will be imparted to yow, wherein also it is desired that these things be keeped close. We say no more but that

'Direct :-For their Reverend and Loving Brother, Mr. Robert Douglasse, Minister at Edinburgh.'

Lord Montgo

The Commission of the Generall Assembly, having considered Referencethe petition of Hew, Lord Montgomrie, and the testimoniall mery to Presbyterie of Irwing. of the Presbyterie concerning him, and haveing heard himselfe, personallie present, Doe refer him to the Presbyterie of Irwing to receive him to publick satisfaction for his accession to the late vnlawfull Engagement, according to his degree of guiltines, and the order prescribed.

John Elphin

The Commission of the Generall Assembly, haveing con- Referencesidered the petition of Livetenant John Elphingstoun, and stoun to Presbyhaveing heard himselfe, personallie present, Doe referre him to terie of Stirling the Presbyterie of Stirling to try the evidence of his repentance, and thereafter to receive him to publick satisfaction for his accession to the late vnlawfull Engagement, according to his degree of guiltines, and the order prescribed.

witches.

The Commission appoints Messrs. Mungo Law, James Concerning Hamiltoun, Robert Traill, and Ephraim Melvill, Inglistoun, and William Browne to assist the brethren in the West at the Parliament for obtaining a Comission for tryell and punishment of witches.

The nixt meeting the morne afternoon.