thinks the King will not be much against this, if fo that in the ruine of thir mens perfons, he could find a meane to preserve his own honour, and their Epifcopall eftate. Nothing at all was done in the Counsell: the Commiffioner was not pleased to this day to acquaint any there with his Majefties minde; only his folks lets out, that he was confident to leave the countrey in peace, and give them, ere he went, full fatiffaction; bot it seems, that the manie miffives pofted daily to him from Court fince that tyme, hes reftringed his liberty to doe what then he intended.

In his entrie at Leith, I think as much honour was done to him as ever to a King in our countrey. Huge multitudes as ever was gathered on that field, fett themselves in his way. Nobles, gentry of all fhyres, women a world, the town of Edinburgh, all at the Water-gate; bot we were moft confpicuous in our black cloakes, above fyve hundred on a bray-fide in the links, our alone for hist fight. We had appointed Mr. William Livingstone, the strongest in voyce and aufterest in countenance of us all, to make him a fhort welcome; bot a good friend of yours and myne was rafhly officious to informe D. Balquanquall, (') (who is come down to wait on his Grace as almoft a chaplaine, upon hopes, if all goe well, quickly to obtaine ane Archbishopricke, he is for nocht laigher,) that in the harangue were invectives against the Bishops; which was nothing fo, for ye may read the speech at (D.): Upon this information, the Commiffioner excufed himself to our Nobles, and, in paffing, to Mr. William himself, faid that harangues in field were for princes, and above his place; yet what he had to fay he should hear it gladly in private. So our fpokefman, with other two or three of our number, went and delivered to the Commiffioner in his chamber what here ye read without any farder; for we discharged him to enter in any other purpose, all being refolute to give answers to what should be proponed in a public way, after advysement with all the brethren. Our friend, for his rashness to informe, I did much chyde. The Marques, in the way, was much moved with pitie, even to tears; he profeffed thereafter his defyres to have King Charles prefent at that fight of the whole countrey, fo earnestly and humbly crying for the fafety of their liberties and religion. His Grace's countenance and carriage was fo courteous, and his private speeches fo faire, that we were in good hopes for fome days to obtaine all our defyres: yet at

(3) Dr. Walter Balcanquhal, Dean of Durham. For the good friend' his informer, Vide sufra, note page 1.

laft, when we heard, that all the power he had was to cause read at the Croffe a proclamation of the King's pleafure, without any farder commiffion, our hopes became well near defperate. What was in the proclamation we could not learn; only there was much speaking of a command to furrender, and give in our fubfcryved Covenants, upon promife to ratifie by Parliament, all or the most part of the matters contained therein. This was a motion infinitely displeasing to all; and to put the Commiffioner from all hope of obtaining any fuch propofition, Reafons were given out, I think, by Mr. Alexander Henderfone, which ye have here in print, why upon no termes, it was poffible for us to paffe from any poynt, leffe or more, which we had fworne and fubfcribed. This refolution was firmly keeped by all. Mr. W. Cochran, (4) a fharpe and bufie man, was like to have incurred great difgrace, and public cenfure, at the gentries table, for holding privie conferrence with the Thefaurer, and letting fome overtures fall that favoured of altering, upon good conditions, fome claufes of the Covenant. This our ftrickness stopped the proponing of a furrender, or altering of any thing in the write; only the Commiffioner fhew, that he was minded to proclaime the King's pleasure. Our Commiffioners, fome two three of the Nobles, Barrons, Burrows, and Ministers, shew their refolution to protest if it were not fatiffactory. This the Commiffioner, and all he could make, laboured to diffwade with might and maine, with many promises, with great threats; bot in vaine, for we were peremptor; being informed, without a proteftation, and that presently upon the back of the proclamation, our pofterior meetings would be illegal and subject to cenfure: the Reasons that were given out for the neceffity of protesting, ye have here at (F.) All these would not put the Commiffioner from it; he fhew in this he would fee the King obeyed; he would come up to the Crofs, and back the lion-herauld; if they would proteft, he would denunce them all rebels. The Thefaurer comes up the way on the Thurfday before noon, calls for the lion-heraulds, makes foupe the Crofs for the hangings. All our people conveens, fome thousand gentlemen with their fwords loose in their armes, about the Crofs; a fcaffold is made for Caffills, Durie younger, Mr. William Livingstone, and John Smith, to protest for the Four Estates. When this dangerous refolution was perceaved, the lion-heraulds were advertised

(4) Probably Mr. William Cochran of Cowdon, who was afterwards knighted, and raised to the Peerage, first as Lord Cochran, and then as Earl of Dundonald.

to provide horse, which made us conceave they intended to read the proclamation in other burghs. This made many make their horfes ready to have convoyed the Heraulds where ever they went, and courfe was taken for to have protesters provided in every burgh where the proclamation was like to be fent.

This our firme conftancy made the Commiffioner pafs from motioning any more his proclamation. It feemed to many, that his inftructions were of fo many parts, that he had warrand to preffe every piece to the outmost, and then to paffe from it, if no better might be, to the nixt. This feemed to fome of us the beholders, bot little policie; we thought it had been more expedient for our divifion, their maine end as was thought by fome, to have at the verie first granted frankly all they could be brought to, then to offer fome few things, whilk could content none, and to enter upon fecond offers after the refolute rejection of the first. This did bind us all the faster, made us the more bold in preffing our full defyres, upon hopes, that an ambulatorie and paffing commiffion was not yet paffed on the halfe of its way, let be to be near the laft end.

On Fryday we did prefent to his Grace a common Supplication, which ye have at (G.) To make way for a ready answer thereto, there was fome nine Propofitiones spread abroad of purpose, that they might come to the courteours hands, containing articles to be advyfed, upon fuppofition that delayes, crafts or force, should be ufed against us; ye may read them at (H.) This half boast did make the Commiffioner receave our fupplication in the better part. On the Saturnday he promised, after his returne from Kineil on the Tuesday, ane anfwer to it. On that Sonday he heard Mr. Alexander Henderfon preach, and thereafter conferred with him at length in private. Of this we all do much marvell, and cannot fee a reafon why he should have given fuch ane occafion to the Bishops cenfure, whom he knew to be ready enough, upon every fhadow, to calumniate him to the King as ane inclyner to the puritane fide. He was indeed offended with fome of our preachers: Mr. Andrew Cant, ane fuperexcellent preacher, as all report, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. William Livingstone, Mr. Robert Douglafs, Mr. A. Blackhall, and diverfe other, had preffed the extirpation of Epifcopacie. Every day in that week there was a preaching in four or five diverfe roomes, except the Saturnday: what was faid by any, all incontinent was delate to his Grace in no better termes, be affured, then was delivered. Mr. Alexander Henderson had been spareing, and Mr.

David Dick much more; fo that he was cenfured of too much prudence, and behoved to help it by his fcourgeing of the Bishops in posterior fermons. Upon request of some counfellers who loved our caufe, the Bishops, by fome, in fermons, were dealt with more foberly then before; bot nothing at all was remitted by others.

On Tuesday our Commiffioners went to his Grace for ane anfwer to their Supplication according to promife. The anfwer was, That their demands of ane Affemblie and Parliament should be granted; bot first fome fcruples anent the write behooved to be fatiffied. Thir were to be proponed by the three former intercomuners; with these were appointed to treat for us other three, Rothes, Montrofe, Loudon they agreed their conference fhould be by write. The scruple proponed was this; His Majeftie may conceive, that the Confeffion is fo generall in the claufe of mutual defence, that it may not only containe a defence for religion and his Majefties perfon and authority, liberties and lawes of this kingdome, bot also a combination for defending of delinquents against authority and law, even in other claufes then thefe forfaid. Our communers took it to their advyfement with their companie, if therefore it were neceffare to draw up a humble remonftrance, to explaine our dutifull intention concerning the claufe above written. The Tables both of nobles and gentry fand, after long difputt, that fuch remonftrances were dangerous; likly nought bot delayes and fnares were fought for. Yet it was granted, that in a renewed fupplication, that clause should be fufficiently cleared, if so that they were not needleffly incombered with more interrogatories. The fupplication is drawn up by the Nobles, bot mislyked by the Gentry and Ministrie; for what cause I know not, for yet I have not feen that peece. The Commiffioner alfo would have them agree to a declaration of this claufe of his forming; bot this all did refuse: yet at last all did agree upon a Supplication, in thir terms, which ye have at (J.) Against this the Commiffioner did not fay much; only fhew, that what he had in his Instructions concerning ane Affembly and Parliament would not content them; neither would all yet they had faid content the King: for all that, he would not leave the matter def perate; he would poft to his master, and fee if by himself he might give better informations than he could by his miffive letters; he trusted shortly to returne with fatiffactory inftructions. This neceffare overture we could not refuse; bot we intreated his Grace for the earnest agenting with the King, thir Six articles

which ye have here at (K.) The day of his returne he hes named for the longest the fifth of Auguft.

What we speake of the Service-book was occafioned by the Bishops continued madness. However, all does think that the King's proclamation shall free us for ever of that unhappy book altogether: yet they are fo neglectful of their gracious mafter's honour, that by their words and deeds they make the world suspect that the King hes no intention to keep his word: Unhappie fervants to fo good a mafter! Galloway's man affured Mr. James Blair, that the book might well be corrected in our affembly, bot it behooved to goe through. The Bishop of Edinburgh avowed to Mr. James Lang, that in the book there was no evill; that it was much better then that of England; that for all our prefent uproares, that book would goe through, whoever would fay the contrare. The Bishop of Dumblane came to the Commiffioner, fhowing that he was to read service in the chappell, and required his Grace's countenance to it. The Commiffioner bade him "Doe fo," bot to be present at it, it was no part of his commiffion. Thereafter, when Dumblane was affured of the evident danger he might incurre by fuch ane attempt, he returned and fhew the Commiffioner, he behooved, for fear of his life, to let alone his reading. His Grace's anfwer was nouct bot as before, "Doe fo." For all this, they go out, St. Andrewes to Roffelin, and in that chappell read the fervice: this constant report is now questioned. In this I marvell much of their wifdom. St. Andrewes ftill grows in his rage; he is going back in hafte to Court to worke us what woe he can it is like he shall never returne. Our people thinks, by clear law, if they gett any reason, to have [him] excommunicat, and readily thereafter execut. It seems he is so desperate, that he would be content to fall in the peoples hands, for the defyre of martyrdome: Would to God he and his brethren could preferre the fafety of the King and kingdome to their own honour, and satisfaction of their wicked paffions.

What we speak of the interruption of our trade, is occafioned by that arriestment of the States of our merchands armes, at the instance of the King's Agent, (5) and your Confervator alfo,(6) as we hear, upon a most false nar

(5) Sir William Boswell, King's Resident at the States in Holland.

(6) Patrick Drummond, Conservator of the Scots Privileges, at Campvere. He was knighted previous to October 1640, at which time he was suspended or deposed from his office by the Committee of the Estates of Parliament.