his Majesteis speciall authoritie, considdering the supplicatioune of the General Assemblie at Edinburgh the 12th of August 1639, to his Majesteis Honourable Privy Counsall, and the act of the Counsall the 30th of August 1639, conteining the ansuer of the said supplicatioune ; and the act of the said Generall Assemblie, ordaneing by thair ecclesiasticall constitutioune, the subscriptioune of the Confession of Faith and Covenant mentionat in thair supplicatioune. And withall haveing supplicated his Majestie to ratifie and injoyne the samene by his royall authoritie vnder all civill panes, as tending to the glorie of God, preservatioune of religion, the Kingis Majesteis honour and the perfyte peace of this kirk and kingdome, doe ratifie and approve the said supplicatioune, act of counsall and act of assemblie. And conforme thairto, ordanis and commandis the said confession and covenant to be subscryved be all his Majesteis subjects of what rank and qualitie soeuer, vnder all civill panes. And ordanis the said supplicatioune, act of counsall and act of the assemblie, with the haill confession and covenant it selfe, to be insert and registrat in the actis and bookis of Parliament. And also ordanis the samene to be presented at the entrie of euerie Parliament, and before they proceid to anie vther act. That the same be publictlie red and sworne be the haill memberis of Parliament clameing voyce thairin, vtherwayis the refuseris to subscryve and sweir the same sall haue no place nor voyce in Parliament. And siclyik ordanis all judges, magistratis and otheris officiaris of quhatsumeuer place, rank or qualitie, and ministeris at thair entrie, to swear and subscryve the samene covenant, quhairof and of the said supplicatioune, act of counsall and act of the assemblie, the tennouris followis,

"The Supplication of the Generall Assembly conveened at Edinburgh the 12th of August 1639, to his Majesteis High Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesteis Honourable Privie Councell.

"Wee the Generall Assembly considering, with all

humble and thankfull acknowledgment, the many recent favours bestowed upon us by his Majestie, and that there resteth nothing for crowning of his Majesteis incomparable goodnesse towards us, but that all the members of this kirk and kingdome be joyned in one, and the same confession and covenant with God, with the King's Majestie and amongst our selves; and conceiving the main lett and impediment to this so good a work, and so much wished by all, to have been the informations made to his Majestie of our intentions to shake off civil and duetifull obedience due to the Soveraignty, and to diminish the Kings greatnes and authoritie, and being most willing and desirous to remove this and all such impediments which may hinder and impede to full and perfect an union, and for clearing of our loyaltie; wee in our own names, and in name of all the rest of the subjects and congregations whom we represent, do now in all humility represent to your Grace his Majesteis Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesteis most honourable Privie Councell, and declares before God and the world, that we never had nor have any thought of withdrawing our selves from that humble and duetiful obedience to his Majestie and to his government, which by the descent and under the reigne of 107 kings is most chearfully acknowledged by us and our predecessours, and that we never had nor have any intention nor desire to attempt any thing that may tend to the dishonour of God or the diminution of the Kings greatnesse and authoritie. But on the contrarie, acknowledging our quietnes, stabilitie and happines to depend upon the safety of the Kings Majesties person, and maintenance of his greatnes and royall authoritie who is Gods vice-gerent set over us for the maintenance of religion and ministration of justice. Wee have solemnly sworn and do sweare, not only our mutuall concurrence and assistance for the cause of religion, and to the uttermost of our power with our meanes and lives to stand to the defence of our dread Soveraigne, his person and authority in the preservation and defence of the true religion, liberties and lawes of this kirk and kingdome, but also in every cause which

may concerne his Majesties honour, shall, according to the lawes of this kingdome and the duties of good subjects, concurre with our friends and followers in quiet manner or in armes as we shall be required of his Majestie, his councell or any having his authority. And therefore being most desirous to cleare our selves of all imputation of this kinde, and following the laudable example of our predecessours 1589, do most humbly supplicate your Grace his Majesties Commissioner and the Lords of his Majesties most honourable Privie Councell, to injoyn by act of councell that this confession and covenant, which as a testimonie of our fidelitie to God and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed, be subscribed by all his Majesties subjects of what rank and quality

soeuer.

"The Act of his Majesties most Honourable Privie Councell at Edinburgh, August 30. anno 1639, containing the Answer of the Supplication above written.

"The which day, in presence of the Lord Commissioner and Lords of Privie Councell, compeired personally John Earle of Rothes, James Earle of Montrose, John Lord Lowdoun, Sir George Stirling of Keir, knight, Sir William Douglas of Cavers, knight, Sir Henry Wood of Bonytoun, knight, John Smyth burgesse of Edinburgh, Mr Robert Barclay provest of Irwing, Mr Alexander Henderson minister at Edinburgh, and Mr Archibald Johnstone clerk to the Generall Assembly, and in the name of the present sitting Generall Assembly, gave in to the Lord Commissioner, and Lords of Privie Councell, the petition above writen, which being read, heard, and considered by the saids Lords, they have ordained and ordain the same to be insert and registrate in the bookes of Privie Councell, and according to the desire thereof ordaines the said confession and covenant to be subscribed in tyme comming by all his Majesties subjects of this kingdome of what rank and quality soever."

"The Act of the Generall Assembly ordaining by Ecclesiasticall Authoritie the Subscription of the Confession of Faith and Covenant.

"The Generall Assembly considering the great happinesse which may flow from a full and perfect union of this kirk and kingdome, by joyning of all in one and the same covenant with God, with the King's Majestie, and amongst our selves, having, by our great oath, declared the uprightnes and loyalty of our intentions in all our proceedings, and having withall supplicated his Majesties High Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesties honourable Privie Councell, to injoyne, by act of councell, all the lieges in tyme comming to subscribe the Confession of Faith and Covenant, which, as a testimony of our fidelity to God and loyaltie to our King, we have subscribed. And seeing his Majesties High Commissioner, and the Lords of his Majesties honourable Privie Councell, have granted the desire of our supplication, ordaining by civill authoritie all his Majesties lieges in tyme comming to subscrybe the foresaid covenant, that our union may be more full and perfect, we, by our act and constitution ecclesiasticall, doe approve the foresaid covenant in all the heads and clauses thereof, and ordaines of new, under all ecclesiasticall censure, that all the masters of universities, colledges, and schooles, all schollers at the passing of their degrees, all persons suspect of Papistry, or any other errour, and finally all the members of this kirk and kingdome subscribe the same, with these words prefixed to their subscription: The article of this covenant which was at the first subscription referred to the determination of the Generall Assembly being determined; and thereby the five articles of Perth, the governement of the kirk by bishops, the civil places and power of kirkemen upon the reasons and grounds contained in the Acts of the Generall Assembly declared to be unlawfull within this kirk, we subscribe according to the determination foresaid; and ordaines the covenant, with this declaration, to be insert in the registers of the

Assemblies of this kirk, generall, provinciall, and presbyteriall, ad perpetuam rei memoriam; and in all humility supplicates his Majesties High Commissioner, and the honourable Estates of Parliament, by their authority to ratifie and injoyne the same, under all civill paines, which will tend to the glory of God, preservation of religion, the King's Majesties honour, and perfect peace of this kirk and kingdome."-Acts of the Parliaments of Scotland, edit. 1817, vol. v. pp. 292–294.

We now come to the period of the Revolution 1689, when there was an "Act abolishing Prelacie."

"Wheras the Estates of this kingdome, in their claime of right of the eleavinth of Apryll last, declaired, that Prelacie, and the superioritie of any office in the church above Presbyters, is and hath been a greate and unsupportable greiveance to this nation, and contrair to the inclinationes of the generalitie of the people ever since the Reformation; they haveing reformed from Poperie by Presbyters, and therfor ought to be abolished, our Soveraigne Lord and Lady, the King and Queen's Majesties, with advyce and consent of the Estates of Parliament, doe heirby abolish Prelacie, and all superioritie of any office in the church in this kingdome above Presbyters; and hereby rescinds, casses, and annulls the first act of the second session of the first Parliament of King Charles the second, and all other statutes and constitutiones, in so farr allennerly as they are inconsistent with this act; and doe establish Prelacie, or the superioritie of church officers, above Presbiters. And the King and Queen's Majesties doe declaire, that they, with advyce and consent of the Estates of this Parliament, will settle by law that church government in this kingdome which is most agreeable to the inclinationes of the people."(Acts of the Parliament of Scotland, edit. 1822, vol. ix. p. 104.)

The Claim of Right here referred to is of the following tenor: