612 Ve HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap, VI. K. Charles I. land ; all datedOblober 17. 1637. Thefe proclamations inflamed the r 6 people to fuch a degree, that the very next day, the bifhop of Galloway would have been torn in pieces by the mob as he was going to the council houfe, if he had not been refcued by Mr. Steward; but miffing of his lordfhip they befet the council - houfe, and threatened to break open the door ; in fo much that the lords who were affembled, were obliged to fend for fome of the popular nobility in town to their relief ; however the people would not difperfe, till the council had promifed to join with the other lords in petitioning the king againft the fervice-book, and to rebore the fìlenced miniflers. Petitionsa- Soon after this, two petitions were prefented to the lord chancellor gamfJit. and council againfi the liturgy and canons; one in the name of all the men, women, children, and fervants of Edinburgh ; and the other in the name of the noblemen, barons, gentry, miniflers and burgeffes. Their objeélions againfl them were the fame with thofe already mention- ed. The petitions were tranfmitted to the king, who inflead of return- ing a foft anfwer, ordered a proclamation to be publifhed from Sterling [Feb. 19.] againfl the late diforderly tumults, in which, after having de- clared his abhorrence of all fuperfletion and popery, he expreffed his dif- pleafure againfl the petitioners; and to prevent any further riots his ma- jelly ordered the term or feffion to be removed from Linlithgow to Ster- ling, twenty -four miles from Edinburgh, with a tinier injunction that no firanger fhould retort thither without fpecial licenfe. His majefly alfa forbid all affemblies or convocations of people to frame or fign petitions Rufhw. upon pain of high treafon, and yet declared at the fame time that he P 73r. would not ihut his ears againfi them, if neither the form or matter were prejudicial to his royal authority. rinda pro - Upon publifhing this proclamation fundry noblemen, barons, minifters re/tatlan. 'and burghers, met together, and figned the following protefl, " a. That °° it is the undoubted right of the fubjeffs of Scotland, to have immediate recourfe to the king by petition. 2. That archbifhops and bifhopsought " ° not to fit in any judicatory in this kingdom civil or eccle6'aftical, till " they have purged themfelves of thofe crimes which are ready to be " proved againfl. them. 3. That no proclamation of council, in pretence " of the archbi/hops or bops, fhall be prejudicial to any of our proceed- °' logs. 4. That neither we nor any that adhere to us (hall incur any .r damages for not obferving the liturgy or book of canons, as long as it is not e/lablifhed bygeneral alembly oraft ofparliament. 5. That if any inconvenience fall out (which God prevent) upon pref ing the late in- novations, we declare the fame is not to be imputed to us. 6. That all, " our proceedings in this affair have no other tendency but the preferva- -" tton
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