ALthough I haue been in England many yeeres, yet I cānot but be moved with the grievous traducing of faithfull Ministers in Scot­land, which I heare euery day as I haue occasion to meet with men ei­ther addicted (more or lesse) to Papistrie, or vtterly ignorāt of Scottis-affairs. Traducing, I saye, sic Ministers as if they were indeed guiltie of high treason. A lively member of the Kirk cannot but be sensible of the trou­bles thereof, in what part of the world so e­uer [Page] he be: How then can I be vnmoued to heare sic things of the principal members of the Kirk in Scotland, so neare and deare not only to Scottis-mē, but to English-men too, if they be truely religious? For doeth not euery wise-hearted Christian evidently per­ceiue, that (among other Stratagemes of this declining age) Satan would blemish the go­spell and vnderminde the Kirk, through the sides of those faithfull Ministers.

I haue thought it therefore very necessa­rie to collect and set donn this faithfull Re­port, hoping that th'indifferent Reader will suspend his iudgement, till Trueth (Times daughter) be fit to shew her selfe in publict. I cō ­fute no obiections, because I would not of­fend: and besides Rectum est index sui & ob­liqui. Lastly I call this Report faithfull, because I haue faithfullie collected the same out of faithfull intelligences sent out of Scotlande from faithfull Brethren; and not because I can ovow (though I beleeve) everie part thereof to be vndoubtedly true. And there­fore pray with protestation that this Report [Page] be not preiudiciall to a more evident truth, which hereafter may bee published by au­thoritie; or by the Ministrie.

In the Generall Assembly at Halyrude­hous, in November 1602. the Brethren con­sented to his Ma: that the next Assemblie sould be at Abirdeen the last Twesday of Iu­ly 1604. and not before (Notwithstanding it was then and there ordained with his Ma. consent, that the diets of Assemblies be ap­pointed, and kept precisely euerie yeere ac­cording to an act of Parliament 1592) Re­specting his Ma. pleasure so much, as that they did not duly consider how preiudici­all it might proove to the libertie of the [...]rk, to transgresse the said Actes of Parlia­ment, and Generall Assembly, in not hol­ding with all cōstancie the Generall Assem­bly Once (at least) euery yeere.

That their exceeding regard of his Ma: pleasure may ȝit more appeare, it is not to be forgotten, that the Presbyteries yeelded to a Letter dated at Perth 4. Iuly 1604. and subscribed be the Laird of Lowreston the [Page] Kings Commissioner, Maister Patrik Gal­loway, Moderator of the said Assemblie at Holyrudehous and Maister Richard Thomeson, Clerk to the Commissioners, in name of the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly: Whereby they were certified that it was his Maiesties pleasure that the Assembly sould be cōtinued to the First Twesday of Iuly 1605. if advertisement came not sooner. And this they did, notwithstanding an Act of the As­sembly at Holyrudehous, whereby all power was taken from the Commissioners of the Generall Assembly, to make any alteration, drift or delay of the diet of the Generall As­sembly: Which act was made with his Ma­iesties consent, to remooue a iust conceyued grief of the Kirk.

The Generall Assembly being so mani-yeeres deferred, open scandalls so multipli­ed, and the rather because inferior Iudicato­ries were contemned by the chiefest male­factors, who did elude, and escape their cen­sures by appellation to a Generall Assem­bly, which they neuer expected; and Papists [Page] grew so insolent, Iesuites and Seminarie Priestes travayling securely within the king­dome, That of necessitie many Synodes and Presbyteries vsed many meanes and Media­tors, yea many Commissioners from many Provinces, convening at Saint Iohnstone in October 1604. made (with consent of his Ma­iesties Commissioner) a Supplication to his Maiestie, for hasting the General Assembly; But all to no great purpose.

For not long before the vttermost day of Assembly were letters dated at Edingburgh, subscribed as those from Perth, and directed to the Presbyteries, advising them not to keepe the fifth day of Iulij: Which error of naming the fifth day for the First Twesday, which was the second day of Iuli directly ap­pointed in the said letters from Perth, whe­ther it were of purpose or no, it is not cer­ten. But so it was that the Commissioners of some Presbyteries by reason therof came not to Abirdeen till the 4. and 5. dayes of Iuli, and some not at all.

The causes mooving the Presbyteries to [Page] send their Commissioners (these letters not­withstanding) were these. 1. They came too late. 2. They were not with command, but by way of advice. 3. By the said Act at Ha­lyrudehous, the power of altering or delaying the Diet of Assemblies was taken from the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie. 4 No other day and place were appointed. 5. The danger of the forfalting the libertie of the Kirk, and 6. The necessitie of an As­semblie.

The Ministers who convened at Abir­deen the second of Iuly were these, Maist. Iohn Forbes, Ma. Iohn Munro, Ma. Andro Duncan, Ma. Alexander Stranchen, Ma. William Forbes, Ma. Robert ȝoungson, Ma. Iames Irving, Ma. Charles Ferme, Ma. Iohn Sharp, Ma. Robert Du­rie. Ma. Archibald Blackburne, Ma. Iames Rosse, Ma. Dauid Rail, Ma. Alexander Strogie, M. Iames Mill, Ma. David Robertson, Ma. William Dauidson, Ma. Robert Reed, and Iohn Rough, in all 19.

After the sermon made by Ma. Iames Rosse Minister at Abirdeen, the Brethren convened [Page] in the Kirk with the Laird of Lowreston, & by mutuall consent cōtinued their donn sitting till the after noone in expectation of mo Brethren hindred in their iourney, as was supposed, by iniurie of weather. At twoo houres in the after noone they mett in the Session-house, within the Kirk of Abirdeen, and after incalling on the name of God by Mai. Dauid Rout Moderator of the Synod of A­birdeen, in place of M. Pal. Galloway, they sent for the ordinarie Clerk of the Assemblie, who went to them; At which time the Laird of Lowreston sitting don amongst them, affir­med: That though he might charge them, yet he would rather make vse of a missive Letter from the Lordes of the secret Councell, directed to the Ministerie in their Assembly at Abirdeen, which he desired them to read and answer. But vn­till a Moderator was chosen, that could not be. He named Maister Iohn Forbes to be the mouth for the rest; But perceiuing that the Assembly would proceed orderly in their election, he remooved him selfe of his owne free will, That (as he openly declared) hee [Page] might eschew to be quarelled & found fault with, for seeming to approove the said Ele­ction by his presence, if it sould fall out that he and they sould not agree. After his re­mooving, they desired Ma. Thomas Nichol­sone (ordinarie Clerke to the Assembly) to remaine with them, and to do his office, He refused til he sould see how the issue of their doings sould content the Laird of Lowre­ston, and so (but first desiring and obtayning dispensation for his absence) he likewise re­mooved himselfe.

The Assembly proceedes, & having put in lytes Maister Robert Durie, Ma. Iohn Mun­ro, and Ma. Iohn Forbes, who were in ele [...] ­on, with generall consent choose Mai. Io [...] Forbes Moderator, and the rather, because they were willing to respect the Laird of Lowstones nominatiō; and after prayer made by the new Moderator, they did choose M. Iohn Sharp Clerk for that time.

After this election the Letter missiue was read, and the iudgement of the Assemblie craved. The letter consisted of two pointes; [Page] first that the Assembly sould be presently dissolved; and secondly, that no new diet sould be appointed till his Maiestie were ac­quainted therewith. And yet it was agreed betweene the Lord Chancellor and Mai. Iohn Forbes in Edinburgh before the Ministers met in their Assembly at Abirdeen, that the Ministers sould meet, and (vpon request of the Councell) having fenced their Assem­bly, continue the intreating of all things to a new day. The Assembly yeelded to the former, But for reasons before mentioned, thought it needfull to appoint a new diet, if the Laird of Lowreston would not, but if he would they agreed to consent thereto, were the day appointed long or short. They sent & desired his presence. The Moderator de­clared to him the iudgement of the Assem­bly, & he approved the former part of their conclusion, but refused to designe any time long or short, Albeit the Assembly assured him that vpon the reverent respect they had to satisfie his Ma. desire, they would bee als readie afterward to cōtinue to a certen day, [Page] if his Ma. sould require the same. After long reasoning was brought to consider the ne­cessitie of continuing the Assembly to a cer­taine time: and the rather, because (as hee him selfe did there openly report) it was thought they sould never haue Assembly a­gaine: but yet would not agree therevnto, because (as he affirmed) he had no warrant so to do. He therefore againe did volunta­rily remooue him selfe, though he was desi­red to stay, giving the second time the same cause of sic remooving him selfe, which hee gaue before.

Presently after, The intreating of the affairs of the Assembly were continued to the [...] Twesday of September then next following a Abirdeen; & intimation ordained to be made in all Presbyteries according to the order & custome observed in sic cases. Which being done, & the Assembly readie to dissolue, the Laird of Lawreston returned of him selfe (for the doores were neuer shut) and protested that he did not acknowledge their meeting for a lawfull Assemblie from the beginning; [Page] Because of the absence of M. Patrik Galloway, Moderator of the former general Assembly; & of the ordinary clerk: (Here it is to be no­ted that the number of Ministers assembled, was not thē excepted against.) To the prote­statiō the Moderator (in name of the rest) an­swered that the reasons thereof notwithstā ­ding, it behoved the Assembly to be lawful: Because of the warrant. 1. of Gods word. 2. Lawes of the Realme. 3. continuall prac­tise of the Kirk, since the yeere of our Lord 1560. But most clearly set donn in the book of discipline established in this Lande, at his Ma. owne desire publickly made to the Ge­neral Assembly holdē at Glasgo, 1581. where n the 7. ca. art. 3. & 4. it is thus written: All ec­clesiasticall Assemblies haue power to convene to­gether for treating of things cōcerning the church p rtaining to their charges. They haue power to appoint times and places to that effect, & one Assem­bly to appoint diet, time and place of another. 4. The subscription and oath of the King and all his subiects. 5. The said letter of the Com­missioners from Perth and. 6. Presidents in [Page] the Register of the Assembly of choosing a new Moderator in absence of the old, and a clerke for the time in place of th'ordinarie.

In meane time the Lord of Lowreston cau­sed Iohn Wisheart messinger to charge the As­sembly with letters of Horning to suffer the same to desert, and gave a subscribed copie to the Moderator in name of the Assembly? The reasons whereof were these. 1. That his Ma. had signified that he could not be resol­ved anent a general Assembly till the Parlia­ment was past. 2. That this Assembly was without his knowledge & consent. There­vnto Obediēce was given instantly, the Mo­derator craving a certificat of the same vn­der the hand of the messinger, who was also a publike Notarie: but he refusing, The Mi­nisters after the dissolving of the Assemblie with prayer by the Moderator, went presently to the cōmon Clerkes chamber of A­birdeen, & tooke instruments of their obedi­ence to the said charge: Which was t'honly charge that ever they heard of first or last by publick or private intimation or knowledge [Page] whatsoever, as they protested vpon their sal­vation in their Apologie send afterward to his Maiestie.

Of this charge no mention was made to the Lords of the secret Coūcel, but another was alleadged to haue ben giuen by vertue of the same letters on Monday the first of Iuly by open proclamatiō at the mercat crosse of Abirdeen. Whereas (in trueth) there was no sic thing don. For then the Laird of Lowre­ston would haue intimated the same, whē he delivered the said letter missiue, & not haue said that he might haue charged them, if he would. Againe, it can be proved that from the first comming of the Laird of Lowreston and his servants into Abirdeen to eight hou­res in the night, there were cōtinually about the mercat crosse, walking sundrie honest men, who heard of no sic matter. Moreo­uer, if the indorsement of the said supposed charge were true, to wit, that it was execu­ted before. 2. witnesses, both servantes to the Laird of Lowreston, betweene 7. and 8. houres at night, yet it was to no purpose. [Page] Because it was not executed in the morning betweene eight and 12. houre at noone, before famous witnesses according to an act of Parleament 1587.

Vpon Thursday and Friday following [...] reason of the error of the Commissioners Letter aforesaid, came to Abirdeen Mai. Iohn Welsh, Mai. Nathaniel Inglis, Ma. Iames Greig, Ma. Iohn ȝoung, Ma. Thomas Abirnethie, Ma. Archibald Symson, Ma. Nathaniel Harlaw, M. Abraham Henderson, and Iohn Rosse: who fin­ding the Assembly dissolved, and having re­ceived a subscribed copie of the procee­dings thereof, went to the place where the Assembly was holden, and for the discharge of their Commission, tooke instruments vn­der the handes of two Notaries, that they were come to haue kept the said Assembly and that they did ratifie all the proceedings thereof, in their own names, & in the names of the Presbyteries who sent them.

After which proceedings, the 24. of Iuli, Mai. Iohn Forbes being in Edinburgh of pur­pose to satisfie the Lords of Councell anent [Page] the alleadged disobedience to his Maiesties charge, was send for by the Coūcell to speak with them who were convened, consisting of 6. Lords and 7. or 8. of the late Bishops, & Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie (a noveltie not heard of before in Scotland) and was commanded to warde in the Castle of Edinburgh, because he would not con­demne the Assembly at Abirdeen by his pri­vate iudgement, albeit he submitted him self and proceedings thereat to the General As­semblie.

Maister Iohn Welsh being also in Edinburgh, was charged by a Messinger to compeir be­fore the Councell the next day following; who compeiring & refusing to giue his oath, as he tooke it super inquirendis, albeit he offe­red it vpon the knowledge of the particular interrogatories, was likewise warded in the Tolbnith till eleaven houres, at which time both he and Mai. Iohn Forbes were transpor­ted to Blacknes.

The second of August Ma. Robert Durie, Ma. Andro Duncan, Ma. Alexander Stranchen, and [Page] Ma. Iohn Sharp, being summoned, compeired before the Councell, and with them M. Iohn Welsh, who was brought from Blacknes vpon his offer to giue his Oath vpō the pointes of his summonds, and were all committed to prison in Blacknes, for the same cause for which Ma. Iohn Forbes was imprisoned.

The third of October other 14. of those, who had been either the 2. or 5. day of Iuly in Abirdeen, being cited before the Coun­cell 7. of them, because they doubted of the lawfulnes of the Assembly, til it were discus­sed in a free Generall Assembly, were remit­ted home; and other 7. were warded for the same cause, for which the rest were impriso­ned before. To wit, Mai. Charles Ferme, and Ma. Iohn Munro were warded in the Castle of Dorone, M. Nathaniel Inglis, & M. Iames Greig, in the castle of Dumbertome, M. Iames Irving, Ma. William Forbes and Iohn Rosse in the castle of Stirling. The rest who were at Abirdeen the 2. and 5. of Iuly were not summoned, and so spared by the providence of God.

After sundrie Supplications, the saide 13. [Page] imprisoned Ministers wrote reasons to proove the Summonds frō the secret Coun­cell, and proceedings before them to be pre­iudiciall to the authorised discipline of the Kirke, and contrarie to the laudable order observed in the Realme. And most humbly besought their Lo: in the name of the Lord Iesus Christ, who shall iudge the quick and the dead, to remit their cause and trial there­of to the Generall Assembly as only iudge competent thereto: as also to dimit them in peace that they might attende on their cal­lings. Which Supplications not regarded, they gaue to the Lords a Declinator subscri­bed by them al the said 24. of October. Wher­by they did appeale, as it were, frō the King and the Councell, to the K. and General As­sembly: yet so that they did alwaies acknow­ledge themselues bounde to submit to the Councels iudgement, in any matter where­in any other subiect was bound to submit. And howsoever they referred the answering of theticall Interrogatories to the Generall Assembly, yet to cleare themselues of crimes [Page] obiected, they answered particular accusati­ons & hypotheticall interrogations in their Resuming of the said Summonds and Apo­logie to his Ma.

Their Reasons of declining the Councels iudgement contained in their last supplica­tion, and pleaded when they gaue their De­clinator, be these.

1. They alleadged and read an act of Par­liament in anno 1592. whereby a former act of Parliament anno 1584. making it treaso­nable to decline the King & Councels iudg­ment was interpreted, (for it passed whē the principall members both of Kirk and Com­monwealth were forced to forsake the land, and it was neuer put in executiō) not to de­rogate any thing to the priviledge that God hath given to the spirituall office-bearers in the Kirk concerning any essentiall censure having warrant of Gods word. But to iudge of the lawfulnes or vnlawfulnes of Synodes (wherof the General Assembly is the sinew and life) is an essentiall censure, having war­rant of Gods word.

[Page]2. By the practise of the Kirk since the act of Parliament 1584. recorded in the Regi­ster of the Assembly, one Assembly hath e­uer discerned and iudged another, and the proceedings thereof, as is evident in the Ge­nerall Assembly holdē at Dundie anno 1597. which allowed the Assembly at Perth, & the proceedings thereof; at both which Assem­blies his Ma: was present: and (which is more) he required the question made of the former to be decided by the later Assembly, as properly pertayning to that Iudicatorie. And in his Ma: Proclamatiō given to Hamp­ton-Court 26. of September 1605. His Ma: not forgetting the practise of this Kirk, expecteth separation of the supposed disorders of the Assembly (for which we are called in que­stion) at the Assembly to be holden at Dun­die the last Twesday of Iuly next.

3. If the Councell sould take vpon them to iudge & censure the lawfulnes or vnlaw­fulnes, the validitie or invaliditie of an As­sembly: What were this, but to confounde Ecclesiasticall, & Civill Iudicatories, which [Page] hitherto haue been by law and practise hap­pely distinguished? and which his Ma: in the Declaration of the saide Act of Parliament, anno 1584. professeth to bee farre from his meaning. His intention being (as he there af­firmeth) not in sort to take away the lawfull and ordinarie iudgement in the Kirk, whereby Disci­pline and gude order might decay; But that as temporall Magistrates do iudge in temporall mat­ters, so Spirituall Iurisdiction sould haue the ordi­narie triall in matters belonging to the Ministrie and their estate.

Moreouer, It may be affirmed, that it is no new thing to decline the Councell. For 1. there is a Declinator yet extant, subscribed by the handes of those same men of the Mi­nisterie, who are now most against vs, & mo then 300. Pastors: and 2. It is also, and hath been an ordinarie custome in civill and cri­minall matters even of Civill persons to de­cline the Councell, and to take them to the iudgement of the Lords of Session, or to the Iustice, vpon the different qualitie of the ci­vill fact.

At this time Ma. Robert ȝounson, one of those who had been remitted from Perth, because he doubted of the lawfulnes of the Assembly, being mooved in conscience, re­turned; and the same day and houre when these 13. were standing before the Councel in that cause did compeir, and desiring to be heard did acknowledge his ouersight at Perth, and confesseth his trouble in consci­ence. And therefore that albeit not summo­ned by their Lo: yet charged by the living God, was compelled to come thether that day to iustifie that Assembly, & whole pro­ceedings thereof, to the great astonishment of the Lords, and comfort of his brethren; who also subscribed the Declinator with them. Who all thereafter were sende backe to their seuerall prisons, & Ma. Robert ȝoung­son to the Castle of Stirling, with the other three that were warded there, and so as yet all continue in warde.

In their Resuming of Summondes and Apologie before mentioned, the Ministers cleere thēselues of crimes obiected, by nar­ration [Page] of their proceedings alreadie repor­ted, and reasons therein comprised; and ȝet further by these Apologeticall answers.

First, the true cause of the lawfulnes of ec­clesiasticall Synodes, and actions is the ordi­nance of Iesus Christ, who as King of his Kirk, hath prescribed and commaunded the same in his word, as is affirmed in the saide booke of Discipline, cap. 1. art. 10. So that the act of Parliament in anno 1592. is not the only warrant of sic Synods and actions, being but the ciuill approbation of our chri­stian Soveraigne mooved of christian dutie, in testification of his subiection to Christ, & willingnes to haue all his subiectes brought vnder humble obedience to the scepter of Christ, as may appeare by these wordes of the said Act: And declareth the said Assemblies Presbyteries, and Sessions, Iurisdiction and Discipline thereof, to haue been in all times bigane, & to be in all times comming, most gude, iust and godly in the selfe. Therfore, and the rather be­cause of our subscription and oath to main­teine the discipline of our Kirk conteined in [Page] the Confession of our faith, we had highlie sinned, if we had not forced the General As­sembly, being not forbidden to meet by the Councell, nor by the Kings Commissioner, no not by the Commissioners of the Gene­rall Assemblie. For they only advised vs not to keepe the 5. day, and it was not kept. And seeing we had indangered the libertie of the Kirk, if we had not continued the Assem­blie to a certen day. For authoritie designed none, wherevnto we might haue consented, and therefore, that day being expired, ano­ther could not bee appointed by the Kirke, according to the ordinance, and ordinarie custome of the same.

Secondly, we did not transgresse the said act of Parliament anno 1592. in any thing. 1. Because it is no instituting law, but a sim­ple approbation of Assemblies as they are appointed by the Kirk. 2. Because the said Approbation declares that it salbe lawful to the Kircke & Ministers euery ȝeere once, and ofter, as occasion sall require, to hold Gene­rall Assemblies. 3. Because in the same sta­tute [Page] it is provided that the King, or his Cō ­missioner (if either be in the Towne where the general Assembly is held) be present, not to allow or disallow the convening or hol­ding of the said Assemblies, but only to no­minate the time & place of the next Assem­bly. And therefore it is provided that the King or his Commissioner be present at Ilk Generall Assembly before the dissolvinge thereof: Neither doth the proviso giue au­thoritie to the King or his Commissioner to nominate the time and place of the next As­sembly absolutely, or by him selfe, but con­iunctly and with the Assembly. But if nei­ther the King nor his Commissioner be pre­sent in the place of the Assembly, then the proviso saith expresly, that it salbe lesum to the Assembly by them selues to nominate time and place of the next Assembly. But true it is, that his Ma: could not, and his Cō ­missioner would not be present, but (as said is) voluntarily removed him selfe, while the Assemblie was continued to a certen time and place.

Thirdly, let it be supposed that it was an offence to hold, and to continue the said As­semblie, ȝet it was not to be imputed vnto vs, because we were but commissioners of sundrie Presbyteries, wherevnto, & not vn­to vs in particular the saids letters from the Commissioners at Edinburgh were directed, which notwithstanding, the Presbyteries send vs vnto the Assembly, & approved our proceedings after the Assembly. So that the Presbyteries (if any) and not we are subiect to censure.

All which allegations notwithstanding, Ma. Iohn Forbes, Ma. Iohn Welsh, Ma. Robert Durie, Ma. Andrew Duncan, Ma. Iohn Sharp, and Ma. Alexander Stranchen were brought by the guard frō Blackenes to Linlitgow, there to be arraigned vpon Friday 10. Ianuary last, before the secret Councell of Treason, be­cause they declined the iudgement of the said Councell, contrarie to the saide Act of Parleament anno 1584.

The Councell first dealt with them in­stantly, to depart from their Declinator for [Page] his Ma: satisfaction. They were willing, so that all proceedings might be holden pro de­leto. Then the Councell willed them to take advise of their brethrē, who were many then and there met together from many partes of Scotland. They did so, and at first found great difference of opinion. For some thought it lawfull, & (in respect of incōveniences likely to follow) verie expedient to depart frō the said Declinator. In the end (with consent) some of the Ministers were send to the Coū ­cell, for eschewing the present perill of their Brethren, to craue leaue for the prisoners to go, & cōferre with the Presbyteries (which send them in commission) anent that moti­on, without whose advice thei could do no­thing in the said matter. This denied, it was thought by the whole number of the Mini­sters, that the Prisoners could not passe frō their Declinator without great preiudice to the Kirk and Kingdome of Christ. Where­vpō thei were caried to the place of arraign­ment, and named for their Prolocutors Ma. Thomas Craig, M. William Oliphant, M. Thomas [Page] Hope, & M. Thomas Gray, who had all promi­sed to speake for them; but the two former being absent were send for and refused to come. The other two by evident reasons made the lawfulnes of the prisoners their proceedings, manifest to the consciences of all. But the prisoners them selues so cleared themselues & their cause, that their enemies were astonished, their doubtfull Brethrē re­solved, & euery one that heard, satisfied. So that the Kings advocat was put to his shift, namely to charge the Assise only to finde, whether the prisoners had declined the Coūcels iudgment or no, to which purpose only he gave them proofes. And the Assise was so troubled that they would haue been ridde of the matter. But that denied, & they inclosed; at the first they all would haue clensed the prisoners, which being signified to the Coūcell they willed the Iustice clerk, and Henrie Steward Chancellor of the Assise (in England called the Foremā of the Iurie) to deale with the prisoners, to see, if ȝet they might be made to depart frō their Declina­tor; [Page] which beeing refused, they were sende back to the Assise to convict the prisoners in respect it was his Ma. wil, & it behoued so to be, for preparing way to their peace. Wher­vpon it being voted 6. clensed, and the rest filed the Prisoners, to the vnspeakeable grief and miscontent of all men, except, &c. But iudgement was suspended till his Ma. mind be knowne.

Whose minde (I hope) will be to reexa­mine matters, or to release the prisoners, lest otherwise he be guiltie of Innocent bloud; ȝea the bloud of the Lords holy ones (for such are faithful Ministers in a special sense) which is right precious in his sight. And therefore he saith, Touch not mine anoynted, & do my Prophets no harme. And the rather, be­cause it is inacted 11. Iacob. 6. ca. 91. That all Assises (or Iuries) be inclosed alone, and no person to be suffered to be with them, nor to repaire to them vnder any pretence whatso­euer, and that they bee not suffered to come out for whatsoeuer cause, till they being a­greed, returne their answere to the iudge. [Page] Otherwise, or in case any point of the saide act be transgressed, the parties accused to be holden, and pronounced cleare & innocent of the crimes and treasons then laid to their charge. Nay though there were no such sta­tute, yet (I hope) his Ma: will take heed of such innocent bloud, because I haue expe­rience of his naturall gratious disposition. For howsoeuer incensed by sic as sought themselues, he made greeuous lawes against the Kirk in anno 1584. ȝea so, that hee put downe the Presbyteries and set vp Bishops: ȝet vpon better information & considerati­on, he put downe Papall Bishops, and set vp the Presbyterie as the ordinance of God. Again, his Ma. being verie wise, can not but [...]rceyue how the titular Bishops which he hath made, grieving that they haue a title without Iurisdiction: And the late Com­missioners of the Generall Assembly, aspi­ring to that transcendent authoritie, which they see Commissioners Ecclesiasticall ex­ercise in Englande, vnder pretence of his [Page] Ma: prerogatiue, vse all the devises, friendes, and meanes they can, to incense his Ma: a­gainst all Presbyteriall governement, especi­ally the Generall Assembly, which holdeth all in aw.

Beseeching God to sanctifie and blesse his Maiestie, and his Royall Issue to iustifie wisedome, and comfort his people. I com­mend this Report to the Reader, and him to the grace of God. From my chamber the 21. of February 1606.