616. Vie HISTORY of thePiJRITANS. Chap. VI. K Charles I. by his majefly, in defence of the true religion, laws, and liberties of the ' kingdom. The marquis not being able to make any impreffion on the covenanters, returned to England with an account of the melancholy (fate of.affairsin that kingdom, which furprized the englifhcourt, and refleét- ed fame difgrace upon the archbifhop,. for as his grace was going to coun- cil, Archibald the king's jefler faid to him, rhea'sfeule now? Does not your grace hear the news from Striveling about the liturgy ? His grace complaining of this ufage to the council, Archibald Armfirong the king's fool was ordered to have his coat pulled over his ears, et) be difcharged the king's fervice, and banifhed the court. Icing's con- After tome time Hamilton was fent back with initructions (if necefity ui Ib red to revoke the liturgy, the canons, the high 'commifiion, and 47 r the five articles of Perth; and with authority to fubfcribe the corrfeion offaith of 1580. with the band thereunto annexed, and to take orders that all his majefly's fubjehts fubfcribed the fame. He might alto pro- mite the calling a general affembly and parliament within a competent time, but was to endeavour to exclude the laity from the affembly. The defign of fubfcribing the band of the old covenant of 15 ?(D. was to fe- cure the continuance of epifcopacy, becaufe that band obliges them to maintain the religion at that timeprofefed, which the king would inter- pret of prelatical government, as being not then legally difcharged by parliament, and becaufe it contained no promife of mutual defence and àf/lance againfi all perföns whatfòever, which might include the king himfelf. However the covenanters did not think fit to fubfcribe over again, and therefore only thanked the king for difcharging the liturgy, thecanons, and high commiffìon. A general At length the marquis publifhed a proclamation for a general afembly AJèmbly at to meet at Glafow, Nov. 21. The choice of members went every where in favour of the covenanters, the reverend Mr. Henderfon one of the xtn,. W. p. 865. filenced minilters was chofen moderator, and Mr yohhnfion clerk regifler ; The bi,/hops but the bithops prefented a declinator, " Declaring the affembly to be un- declinator. i' lawful, and the members of it not qualified to reprefent the clergyof " the nation. (s.) t. Becaufe they were chofen before the prefbyteries " had received the royal mandate to make eleaion. (2.) Becaufe molt of them had not fubfcribed the articles of religion, nor fworn to the " king's fupremacy in prefence of the bithops, for neglect of which they " were ipf fablo deprived. (3.) Becaufe they had excluded the bifhops, `° who by the a& of affembly at Glafgow, 161o. were to be perpetual j° moderators. (d.) Becaufe there were lay- elders among them who had no right to be there, nor had ordinarily fet in prefbyteries for above forty years. (5.) Becaufe they apprehended it abfurd, as well as con- d' teary to the praótice.of the chriftian church, that archbifhops and bi- lhops
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