Turnbull, William Foullartoun, George Hutcheson, John Gemmill, Patrik Colvill, James Fergusson, Hew Peebles, John Hamiltoun, Alexander Dunlope, David Elphistoun, David Dickson, Robert Baillie, Robert Ramsay, Patrik Gillaspie, Patrik Sharpe, James Nasmith, John Home, Evan Cameron, Robert Blair, Samuell Rutherfuird, David Forret, Robert Traill, Andro Bennet, Walter Greig, John M'Gill younger, Fredrick Carmichaell, John Muncreiff, John Chalmers, John Duncan, Andro Donaldson, William Oliphant, George Simer, Andro Affleck, Arthur Granger, David Strachan, Andro Cant, John Row, John Paterson, Alexander Cant, John Young, John Seaton, David Lindsay at Belhelvie, Nathaniell Mairtein, John Annand, William Falconer, Joseph Brodie, Alexander Simer, William Chalmer, Gilbert Anderson, David Rosse, George Gray, Robert Knox, William Penman, James Gutterie, Thomas Donaldson, William Jameson, Thomas Wilkie, James Ker, John Knox, Andro Duncason, Ministers; Archbald Marques of Argyle, Alexander Earle of Eglingtoun, John Erle of Cassills, William Earle of Lothian, Archbald Lord Angus, William Lord Borthwick, [John] Lord Torphichen, John Lord Balmerino, Robert Lord Burley, James Lord Couper, [John] Lord Kircudbright, [David] Lord Elcho, Sir Archbald Johnstoun of Wariestoun, Sir John Hope of Craighall, Arthur Erskene of Scotiscraige, Sir John Muncreiff of that Ilk, [David] Beatoun of Creich, Sir John Wauchope of Niddrie, Sir Thomas Ruthven of Frieland, Sir George Maxwell of Nether Pollock, Sir James Fraser of Brae, Sir James Hacket of Pitfirren, Sir William Carmichaell younger of that Ilk, Walter Dundas of that Ilk, Thomas Craige of Rickertoun, Mr. George Winrhame of Libbertoun, Sir [Alexander] Inglis of Inglishtoun, [Alexander] Brodie of that Ilk, [Arthur] Forbes of Eight, [William] Moore of Glanderstoun, John Ker of Lochtour, Alexander Pringill of Quhybank, Walter Scott of Whitsland, John Crafurd of Crafurdland, Sir John Cheisly, Robert Monroe of Obsteall, [John] Cornwall of Ballinhard, George Dundas of Dudistoun, Sir James Stewart of [Kirkfeild], Mr. Alexander Colvill of Blair, Mr. Alexander Peirsone, Mr. Robert Burnet younger, Mr. Thomas Murray, George Porterfeild, Mr. James Campbell, James Hamiltoun, Lawrence Hendersone, Mr.

Robert Barkley, Mr. William More, William Glendoning, Doctor [Alexander] Douglas, James Sword, Gideon Jack, Mr. Dougall Campbell, John Boiswall, John Broune, William Broune, Robert Broune, and William Russell, Elders: Giving vnto them full power and comission to doe all and every thing for preservation of the established Doctrine, Discipline, Worship and Government of this Kirk, against all who shall endeavour to entroduce anything contrarie therevnto, and for prosecuting, advanceing, perfecting and bringing the said work of Vniformity in Religion in all his Majesties dominions to a happy conclusion, conforme to the former commissions granted by preceeding Assemblies there anent. And to that effect appoints them or any sevintene of them, whereof threttene shall be Ministers, to meet here in this city to-morrow the 12th of this moneth, and thereafter vpon the last Wednesday of November, Februarij and Maij nixt, and vpon any other day and in any other place they shall thinke fitt; Renewing also to the persons before named the power contained in the Act of the Assemblie 1643 intituled, 'A Reference to the Comission anent the persons designed to repair to the Kingdome of England.' And further, in case Delinquents have no constant residence in any on Presbyterie, or if Presbyteries be negligent or overawed, in these cases, the Assembly gives to the persons before named full power of censuring complyers and persons disaffected to the Covenant, according to the Acts of Assemblie, Declairing alwayes and providing that Ministers shall not be deposed but in one of the quarterlie meetings of this Comission: And further authorizes them as formerlie with full power to make supplications, remonstrances, declarations and warnings, to indict fasts and thanksgivings as there shall be cause, to protest against all encroachments vpon the liberties of the Kirk, and to censure all such as interrupt this Commission or any other Church judicatorie, or the execution of their censures or of any other sentences or acts ishewing from them; With full power to them to treat and determine in the matters aforesaid, and in all other matters referred vnto them by this Assembly, as fullie and freely as if the same wer here fullie expressed, and with as ample power as any Comission of any former Generall Assembly hath had or been in vse of

before: Declairing also that all opposers of the authoritie of this Comission in matters intrusted to them shall be holden as opposers of the authority of the Generall Assembly: And this Commission in their whole proceedings are comptable to and censurable by the nixt Generall Assembly.1

We subjoin the commission given by the same Assembly to certain members of their Commission to prosecute the Treaty of Uniformity with the Houses of Parliament and the Assembly of Divines in England :—

'The General Assembly, taking to their consideration that the Treaty of Uniformity in Religion in all his Majesties Dominions is not yet perfected, Therefore renews the power and commission granted by preceeding Assemblies for prosecuting that Treaty unto these persons afternamed, viz., Mr. Robert Douglas, Mr. Samuel Rutherford, Mr. Robert Baillie, Mr. George Gillespie, Ministers; and John, Earle of Cassills, John, Lord Balmirinoch, and Sir Arch. Johnston of Wariston, Elders: Authorizing them with full power to prosecute the said Treaty of Uniformity with the Honourable Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Reverend Assembly of Divines there, or any Committees appointed by them: And to do all and every thing which may advance, perfect, and bring that Treaty to an happie conclusion, conform to the Commissions given thereanent.'

The Commissioners of the General Assembly on 11th October added Mr. Robert Blair and Sir John Cheislie to the above Commission (pp. 99, 100), and these two were the only members of it who actually proceeded to London in furtherance of the objects for which the Commission had been appointed.

THE ACTS AND PROCEEDINGS of the

COMMISSION of the late GENERAL ASSEMBLY
holden at Edinburgh in the moneths of July
and August last 1648.

Edinburgh, 12 August 1648, post meridiem.

Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. Robert Douglas: Mr. David Dicksone: Mr. John M'Ghie: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. John Smith: Mr. Robert Young: Mr. John Livistoun : Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. Hew Peebles: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. John Home: Mr. George Summer: Mr. Alexander Cant: Mr. John Annand: Mr. Joseph Brodie: Mr. William Chalmer: Mr. James Gutterie: Mr. William Jameson : Mr. James Ker: Mr. George Gillaspie : Mr. Robert Ker: Mr. John Knox: Mr. John Adamson: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. William Row: Mr. John Givan: Mr. George Hutcheson : Mr. James Ferguson : Mr. John Hamiltoun: Mr. Robert Ramsay: Mr. Evan Cameron: Mr. Andro Cant: Mr. David Lindsay: Mr. William Falconer: Mr. Alexander Summer: Mr. Gilbert Anderson : Mr. Thomas Donaldson: Mr. Thomas Wilkie: Mr. John Knox: Mr. Andro Duncason. ELDERS. Earl Cassils Scotiscraige: Laird Brodie: Dudistoun: George Porterfield : Mr. James Campbell: Doctor Douglas: Robert Broune.

After incalling vpon the name of God by Mr. George Mr. George Gillaspie, Moderator of the late Generall Assembly, the names derator. Gillaspie, Mo

of the Comissioners being called, and the Comission read, the brethren proceeded to the choysing of a Moderator, and vnanimously elected the said Mr. George Gillaspie Moderator of this Commission in all the sessions and meetings thereof.

This day there being presented a Reference from the late Comittee for considering the Assembly to this Comission, for answering the Observations of Comittee of the Comittee of Estates vpon the Assemblies Declaration, Estates Observations vpon the which the Assembly being about to close and end had no Assemblies Detyme to answer, the Comission appoynted Messrs. Robert Douglas, John Smith, James Hamiltoun, James Guttrie, Andro Cant, David Dickson, Robert Ramsay, Earl of Cassills,

claration.

The answer of

ers of the Gen

Scotiscraige, Dudistoun, with the Moderator, to be a Comittee for considering the said Observations, and drawing an draught of an answer therevnto, and to report; as also that they consider some expressions in the petition of the late Assembly to the King, which the late Assembly recomended to be revised and helpit by this Commission.

The nixt meeting vpon Tuesday at 2 afternoon.

Edinburgh, 15 August 1648, post meridiem.

Sederunt:-MINISTERS.-Mr. George Gillaspie, Moderator: Mr. John Adamsone: Mr. John Smith: Mr. David Lindsay: Mr. James Gutterie : Mr. James Ferguson: Mr. John Home: Mr. David Elphingston: Mr. George Symer: Mr. Evan Cameron: Mr. John Ridfoord: Mr. Robert Douglasse Mr. George Lesly: Mr. Andro Cant: Mr. Mungo Law: Mr. David Dicksone: Mr. James Hamiltoun: Mr. Alexander Dunlope: Mr. Patrik Colvill: Mr. Alexander Symer: Mr. William Row: Mr. John Knox: Mr. John Sinclair: Mr. Robert Young: Mr. John Row: Mr. Andro Duncason: Mr. John Knox. ELDERS.--Earl Cassills: Brodie: Scotiscraig Libbertoune: Sir James Stewart: Mr. James Campbell : Lawrence Henderson: Gideon Jack.

This day the Comittee appoynted yesterday [submitted] the Draught of ane answer to the Observations of the Comittee of Estates vpon the Assemblies Declaration, which being read, after some alterations and corrections, the Comission vnanimously approved the same; Tenor whereof followes: 1

"The Answer of the Comissioners of the Generall Assembly vnto the Observations of the Honourable Comittee of Estates vpon the Declaration of the late Generall Assembly.

Although there were other three papers delivered in to the the Comission- honourable Comittee of Estates from the General Assembly erall Assembly beside the Assemblies Declaration, yet nothing was returned from vations of the their Lordships except only some Observations vpon a part of the

vnto the Obser

Honorabill

Comittee of Estates vpon the Declaration of the late Generall Assemblie.

Declaration which Observations being sent to the Generall Assembly, while they wer hastening to a close after so long attendance, were read and considered, and declared vnanimovslie

1 This paper was at once published under the following title, The Answer to the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly unto the Observations of the Honourable Committee of Estates upon the Declaration of the late Generall Assembly, August 15, 1648. Edinburgh. Printed by Evan Tyler, Printer to the King's most excellent Majesty, 1648. Internal evidence points decidedly to George Gillespie, the Moderator, as the main author of this paper, and it is one of the most terse and pithy he ever wrote.