THe last Wednesday being the twentieth of July 1653. was the saddest day that ever I saw on Earth, and I thought not that any that cals them­selves Reformed Christians and Co­venanters, would have Enterprized such an Act. It was the day of the meeting of the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, at which M^r David Dickson did Expound in the Gal. 2. and taught on 2 Cor. ch. 13. vers. 11. M^r Robert Doug­las taught afternoon on 1 Cor. 12.25, 26, 27. both of them very holily, prudently and honestly, for healing our Rents. After these Sermons about four of the Clock, the Generall Assembly met in the usuall place; and immediatly after prayers [Page 2]conceived by M^r Dickson the last Moderator, there came in one Lieutenant Colonell Cotterel, and Captain Cliftown Captain of the Castle of Edenborough, and another Captain with them, whose name I know not. The Lieutenant Colo­nel standing upon a bench, said with a loud voice, Gentlemen, I am commanded to ask you by what Authority you sit here: If you have none from the Parliament, Commander in Chief, or Judges, you are to go with me. Now at this time he had some Musketteers at the door of the House within the Church, and some Horse and Foot about the Church: M^r Dickson desired all that were in the house and not Members of the Meeting, to remove, that they might give a discreet Answer to the Gentleman that spoke. After all removed, M^r Dickson said, We sit here by the Authority of Jesus Christ, and by the Law of this Land, Whereby we are Authori­zed to keep Generall Assemblies from year to year, according to the several Acts of Parlia­ment, and every Assembly meets by the Ap­pointment of the Former. The Lieutenant Co­lonell required them to arise and go with him presently, or else he would make them rise on other terms. Mr Dickson desired time to call the Rols to constitute the Assembly, and appoint the next Diet. By this time some Musketteers with fired matches entered the House; where­upon M^r Dickson prayed, and in time of Prayer the Commanders aforesaid kept on their Hats, [Page 3]and one of them spake all the time; the Prayer was short: M^r Dickson protested that this violent raising of the Assembly should not hinder the next meeting to be at such a time and place as he should think meet to appoint at a fitting oppor­tunity; whereupon they were forced to rise, and as they went out at doors were guarded about with Foot and Horse, the Officers going before: They went up the West Bow, and down the Bow to the West-Gate, and from thence to Brunsfield-Linkes, and there they took up all their Names, and gave Orders to them to go to their own homes at the nearest; and not return to the Town: But when some told him that their way was through the City, and all of them had something to do there: He commanded them that returned to the City, to give up their own names and the names of their Lodgings to the Captain of the Guard that night at seven of the Clock, and to depart the City to morrow by eight a Clock in the morning at their perill; and that no three of them should meet together; Whereupon M. Dickson again protested to the pur­pose aforesaid: It would have grieved any Chri­stian soul to see the Members of that Grave As­sembly so disgracefully carried through a great part of the City and Suburbs. Especially Re­verend M. Dickson late Moderator, and to have heard the Groans and Sighs that were among the People for the violence done to the Highest Court of Christ in Scotland; Yet in this time [Page 4]and all the next day the Remonstrators or Pro­testors against the decliners of the Assembly sate in the West-Kirk without any to raise them, but on Thursday at night a Proclamation was made at the Market-Crosse, that all Lords, Lairds, and Ministers should depart the City by too mor­row at eight a Clock, except such as had to do in the Laws, or before the Judges, or could give other necessary cause of their stay: By whose instigation this was done God will bring to light in his good time, but the Order is un­der Colonell Lilburn's hand: We expected better things at their hands who swore sincerely, real­ly, and constantly through the grace of God in their severall places and callings, the preservati­on of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, then to overturn our Discipline and Government. As for my self I found the word of 2 Chron. 20.6. made very lively and sensible to me; and I got great liberty to pray and beleeve accordingly.

God is Just, and will not forget a broken Co­venant, He will be a speedy witnesse against Co­venant-breakers, but in his own time, which is best, and till then here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints.