Chap. VI. The HISTORY of the PURITANS. 625 " only in fatisfaEtion to the people for fettling the prefent diforders, and K. Charles.I. ,< foch other reafons of ¡late ; but herein you mutt be careful that our r " intentions appear not to any." 'Tis evident from hence, that his majefty's ufage of the fcots was neither frank nor fincere ; he had no defign to abolith epifcopacy, only confented to fufpend it, becaufe he was told that the bithops being one of the threé eftates of parliament, no law made in their abfence could be of force, much lefs an at for abolifhing their whole order, after they had entered their proteft in form. When his majefty gave way to the fubfcribing the covenant, it was with another referve, " as far as may 'landwith ourfuture intentions well known to you. °' For though we have difcharged the fervice book and canons, we will " never confent that they be condemned as popifh and fuperftitious, nor Ib. p. 254 will we acknowledge that the high commiffion was without law, nor " that the five articles of Perth be condemned as contrary to the con- fetfion of faith, 'tis enough that they be laid afide." His majefty's in- ftrudions conclude, " That if any thing be yielded in the prefent af- " fembly prejudical to his majefty's fervice, his coinmitfioner (hall proteft, " that his majefty may be heard for redrefs thereof in his own time and. " place." Thefcots parliament met Aug. 3 r. and having firft fubfcribed the fo- Parliament lemn league and covenant with the king's confent, they confirmed all the meet' as ofthe general affembly, with the utter extirpation o e z - Nalfon, g Y concluding P Î pf p. 25b. copacy as unlawful. But the king having by letter to his commifiìoner for- King refnjes bid him to confent to the word unlawful, left it fhould be interpreted ab- to eonfrm folutely, tho' it feems to have a reference only to the kirk of Scotland, their atti. his lordfhip prorogued the parliament, firft for fourteen days, and then by the king'sexprefs command for nine months, without ratifying anyof their acts. The earl of Dumferlin and lord Loudon were difpatched to London, to befeech his majefty to confent to their ratification ; but they were fent back with a reprimand for their mifbehaviour, being hardly ad- mitted into the king's pretence. It feems too apparent, that his majefly meant little or nothing by his concefíions but to gain time, for in hisde- claration before the next war, about fix months forward, he fays " Con- " cerning our promife of a free parliament, no man can imagine we in- " tended it thould be fo free as not to be limited by the enjoyment of their "` religion and liberties, according to the ecclefiaftical and civil laws ofthat " kingdom ; but if they pals thefe bounds, we are difobliged, and they left " ° at liberty to fly at our'monarchical government without controul,to wreft " the fceptre out of our hands, and to rob the crown of the faireft flowerbe- " longing to it." The king thereforedid not really intend the alteration of any of thecivffor ecclefiaftical laws of that kingdom, and by his majefty's Vol.. I. 4 L not
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