Chap. XL The HIsT`ORY of the PUktrANS. 771 The king was highly difpleafed with the(cots mediation, and tent themK.Charles I. word that the cafe of England and Scotland was different ; in Scotland 1642' (fays his majefty) epifcopacy was never fully fettled by law, and is found Wl,ict the to be contrary to the genius of the people ; but in England it is rooted king refujls. in the very conflitution, and has flourifhed without interruption for eighty years ; he therefore commands them not to tranfaél betweenhint and his parliament, without firft communicating their propofitions to him in private. At the fame time his majefty tent letters into Scotland, and ordered the chancellor to ufe his utmoft efforts to keep that king- dom to a neutrality. On the other hand, the parliament threw themfelves But thepar- into the arms of thefcots; they thanked the commiffioners for their kind ¡lament ac; and feafonable interpofition, and prayed them to continue their endeavours Cep° to remove the prefent diftraltiors, and to preferve the union between the two kingdoms. They wrote like-wife into Scotland to the fame purpofe; the effeétsof which will appear at the next meeting of their parliament. In the mean time, the lords and commons in order to encourage the expeEtations of their friends in both kingdoms, publifhed the following declaration of their intentions. Die Sabbati, 4pril 9. 1642. " The lords and commons declare, that they intend a due and necef. Declaration " fary reformation of the gpvernmént and difcipline of the church, and f the parka. " to take away nothing in the one but what (hall be evil and juftly nin°st. " offenfive, or at leaf} unneceffary and burdenfome ; and for the betterformatgion. effeâing thereof, fpeedily to have confultation with godly and learned " divines ;, and becaufe this will never of itfelf attain the ends fought " therein, they will ufe their utmoft endeavours to eftablifh learned and " preaching minifters, with a good and fufficient maintenance, through- " out the whole kingdom; wherein many dark corners are miferably " deflitute of the means of falvation, andmany poor minifters want ne- " ceffary provifion." This declaration was ordered to be publifhed by the fheriffs of the fever-al counties, for the fatisfaftion of the people. The diflance between London and York encreafed the mifund'er- ftanding between the king and his parliament ; numbers of paffengers travelling between the two place's with ferret intelligence, the parliament appointed the following oath to be taken by all who came from the king's quarters. 5 F 2 I A.B.
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