618 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap. VI. K. CharlesI. " in bis own perfon or by his commif loners, is not for voting, but 1638. princes and emperors of old, in a princely manner, to countenance their meetings, and prefide in them for external order. 3. That it is " clear by the doétrine and difcipline of the kirk, contained in the book " ofpolicy, and regifl:ered in the book of the affembly, and fubfcribed by the prefbyteries of this kirk, that it is unlawful in itfelf, and pre- r" judicial to the privileges that Chrift has left his church, for the king to " diffolve or break up the affembly of this kirk, or to flay their pro- " ceedings; for then it would follow, that religion and church govern- ment fhould depend abfolutely upon the pleafure of the prince. " q. That there is no pretence by aft ofaffembly or parliament, or any °` preceeding praétice, whereby the king's majefty or his commif loner, " may lawfully diffolve the general affembly of the church of Scotland, " without their confent. 5. That the affemblies of the kirk have con- " tinued fitting, notwithftanding any contramand, as it is evident by all the records thereof; and in particular by the general affembly of 1582. And laftly, to diffolve the affembly before any grievances are " redreffed, is to throw back the whole nation into confufion, and to `. mare every man defpair hereafter ever to fee innovations removed, the fubje is complaints regarded, or offenders punifhed. For thefe rea- °` Ions they declare it lawful and neceffary to continue the prefent affemb- " ly, till they have tried and cenfured all the by-gane evils and the in- " trodubtors of them, and have provided a folid courfe for continuing God's truth in this land with purity and liberty; they declare further, that the laid affembly is, and (hall be efteemed and obeyed as a molt lawful, full and free general affemblyof this kingdom, and that theaéts, " fentences, cenfures and proceedings of it, (hall be obeyed and obferved " by all the fubjelts of this kingdom." Preparations Archbtthop Laudwas vexed at thefe bold and defperate proceedings of of the enghlh the affembly, and thought of nothingbut difperfing them by arms. " I will coact againJI .r. be bold to.fay (lays his grace) never were there more grofs abfurdities, Rufbw. " nor half fo many in fo (port a time, committed in any public meeting ;. p. 86g. " and for a national affembly never did the church of Chrift fee the " like." " I am as forry as your grace [the marquis of Hamilton] " can be, that the king's preparations can make no more hafte ; I hope " you think I have called upon his majefty, and by his command upon " tome others, to haften all that may be, and more than this I cannot " do; ---- I have done, and do daily call upon his majefty for his " preparations ; he protefts he makes all the hafte he can, and I believe " him ; but the jealoudes of giving the covenanters umbrage too fool " have made preparations here fo late." The
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