THe whilck day in presence of the Lords of secret Councel compered personaly, Thomas Earle of Haddington, David L. Elcho, Arthur Areskine of Scotis-craig, Sir Iohn Wanshop of Nidrie, Iohn Binny and Thomas Paterson Merchants, Burgesses of Edenburgh, James Len­tron Burgesse of Saint Andrewes, Mr. Andrew Ramsey Minister at Edenbourgh, and Mr. John Montereiff Minister at Kingorne, for them­selves, and in the name of the Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgesses and Ministers occasionally meeting at Edenbourgh, and gave in to the said Lords the supplication underwritten, of the whilke the tenor followes: To the Right Honourable the Lords of his Ma­jesties privy Councell, The humble Petition of many Noblemen, Gentlemen, Burgesses and Ministers occasionally meeting at Eden­bourgh. Humbly sheweth. Wheras they upon the report & fight of great Convocations suddenly endeavoured & unexepctedly brought into this great Counsell day, for the most part by these who have beene esteemed by the Country and challenged by the Parlia­ment, as Incendiares, plotters, and enemies to the peace of this Kingdome, have occasionally conveened at Edenburgh, And having heard of Letters from His Majesty, and Declaration from the Parliament of England anent the present distractions of that Kingdome: They have reason from bygan expe­rience, and present presumptions to feare the intentions and endeavours of these evill affected persons and their adherents, lest by their convocations and sollicitations they take occasion of these differences to raise jealousies and divisions betwixt thir Kingdomes. And considering the common interest of all the Subjects of the Kingdome to preserve the late peace, so happily concluded betwixt these Nations, by the providence of God, his Majesties goodnesse and wisedome, and the mediation of the Parliament of England, and so solemnly established by the late treaty, oath of Parliament, publi­que faith, and the great Seales of these Kingdomes. As in all other points, so especially in these Articles (whereunto the rest are called but prefaces) for setling and entertaining a solid peace betwixt thir Nations in time coming; lest upon any pretence they should be dasht one against another. Wherein it is declared the duty of the Estates yea of every subject for to conveene and suppresse any evill affected persons who would raise Armes a­gainst the Subjects of the ather Kingdome without consent of Parliament as traytors to the Estate, much more to Petition against it, and wherein there is appointed a Committee of the Estates for the conservation of the peace in the interim betwixt Parliaments. All which the Petitioners amongst the rest of the good Subjects of this Kingdome, did hazzard their lives and Estates, to obtaine: And did demand in the Treaty upon their dangerous experi­ence of the Councel of England there medling in the affaires betwixt His Majesty and this Kingdom; to the ingaging of the Nations in War, which is so often condemned by the Estates of this Kingdome in their Remonstrances, pressing that common rule of Equity, To doe as you would be done unto: which now is and may be retorted on this Kingdome. Like as desiring earnestly, that your Lordships in these publique resolutions of so great consequence to thir Dominions may carry along with you the hearts and consciences of the body of this Kingdome, and prevent that the breache grow not wider by false confidences grounded upon suddaine undertakings of any persons, as also their naturall affection and duty to their gracious Soveraign according to their manifold obligations, and brotherly affection to the Kingdome of England, forcing them to pray to God, and to desire all men according to their stations, to use all lawfull means, to breed and intertaine a good understanding betwixt His Majesty and His Parliament, the surest foundation of greatnesse to His Majesty, and happinesse to thir Kingdomes. Likewise taking to heart the dangerous consequences to His Majesty, and to his Dominions if your Lordships answer by tendering the offer of your service to His Majesty against the demands, or upon the differences betwixt His Majesty and His Parliament of England, or any other manner of way import (which God forbid) any ingadging of your selves or their Nations in warre, or any thing that may tend thereunto.

Therefore in their owne names, and in the name of the rest of the Nobility, Gentry, Burgesses, and Ministers whose hearts doe, and hands would goe a­long with this petition for preservation of peace betwixt thir Kingdomes, they doe in all humility and earnestnesse, petition your Lordships in the depth of your wisedomes, seriously to ponder the consequences of your answer to his Majesty and the Parliament of England at this time, so as thereby neither the confidence betwixt his Majesty and his good Subjects here, nor amongst themselves, nor betwixt the Kingdomes (these unious tending e­ver to his Majesties greatnesse, and these divisions to his prejudice) may be any wayes weakned, or their peace indangered. And to that end, that as your Lordships would leave no lawfull meanes, according to your vocation and interest, unassayed for begetting a good understanding betwixt his Ma­jesty and his Parliament, being his greatest and most unpartiall Councell, representing the Body, whereof his Majesty is the Head, and for removing these distractions, (the continuance whereof will ever trouble the peace of this Kingdome) according to your Lordships last answer, so also seeing his Majesty requires not that your Lordships should, neither can your Lordships judge of the Lawes and proceedings of another independent Kingdome; and the Parliament of England offers to give all satisfaction concerning any messages or papers sent to your Lordships anent their proceedings, that your Lordships would be pleased carefully, to shun all offers of verball or reall ingadgements, either directly or by way of inference, without consent of the Parliament conforme to the treaty, which either may give any just occasion of offence to their gracious Soveraigne, or of jealously to their brethren in England, or of discourse unto any, as if your Lordships did not observe that former rule of equity pressed by themselves during the time of your troubles, To do to others as they will be done to themselves. But did fall in the same fault, which your Lordships, and the rest of the Estates of this Kingdome, had condemned in the Councell of England; And for this effect they cannot but remember your Lordships that according to an Article of the Treatie, there was appointed a Commission als independent as any other, of so many of every Estate representing the whole Kingdome, to prevent all occasion of division betwixt thir Kingdomes, in the interim betwixt Parliaments. All which they humbly represent to your Lordships wise considerations, and expect from your Lordships, so gracious an answer, as may satisfy their present fears, and secure them from these dangers in this interim betwixt Parliaments, and thereby prevent all necessity of petitions of this kinde.

Whilke supplication being read, heard and considerd by the said Lords, and they finding the same to containe matters of publicke concernment, and of that importance that requires mature deliberation: Therefore they continue the answer of this Petition till the morne, and ordains the whole Coun­sellers in Towne to be warned to attend the Councell the morne at twa houres afternoone.