s wanting warrant from the word of God, and presbytery put
in, as having that divine warrant; and was accordingly sworn unto."

The same day on which the assembly arose, the parliament sat down, but
falling upon matters that did not correspond with the king's design,
Traquair did all he could to stop them that they might have nothing
done, whereupon they agreed to send up the earls of Dunfermline and
Loudon to implore his majesty to allow the parliament to proceed, and to
determine what was before them, &c. But ere these two lords had
reached the court, orders were sent them discharging them in the king's
name, from coming within a mile of him, on supposition they had no
express warrant from the lord commissioner; and they were returned home.

In the mean time the parliament by the kings orders is prorogued to the
2d of June 1640, and matters continued so till Jan. 1641, that the
committee of parliament having obtained leave to send up commissioners
to represent their grievances, did again commission the two foresaid
earls, to whom they added Sir William Douglas of Cavers, and Mr. Barclay
provost of Irvine. On their arrival they were allowed to kiss the king's
hand, and some time after were appointed to attend at the council
chamber, but understanding they were not to have a hearing of the king
himself, they craved a copy of Traquair's information to the council of
England, which was denied. At last the king gave them audience himself
upon the third of March, when the lord Loudon, after having addressed
his majesty, shewed that his ancient and native kingdom is independent
upon any other judicatory whatever, and craved his majesty's protection
in defence of religion, liberty, and the cause of the church and
kingdom, and then speaking concerning those who have or may misrepresent
or traduce these his most loyal Scots subjects, he says, "If it please
God, for our sins to make our condition so deplorable as they may get
the shadow of your majesty's authority, (as we hope in God they will
not) to palliate their ends, then as those who are sworn to defend our
religion, our recourse must be only to the God of Jacob for our refuge,
who is the Lord of lords, and king of kings, and by whom kings do reign
and princes decree justice. And if, in speaking thus out of zeal to
religion, and the duty we owe to our country, and that charge which is
laid upon us, any thing hath escaped us, sith it is spoken from the
sincerity of our hear