ich any in that office had formerly enjoyed;
and instruments taken both of his admittance and acceptance.

Mr Johnston being thus installed, the moderator desired, that all who
had any acts or books of former assemblies, would put them into his
hands; whereupon Mr. Sandihills, (formerly clerk) exhibited two books,
containing some acts from 1592, to that of Aberdeen in 1618, &c. and
being interrogate concerning the rest, he solemnly averred, that he had
received no more from the arch-bishop, and to his knowledge, he had no
other belonging to the church.--Then a farther motion was made by the
assembly for recovering the rest, wanting, that if any had them, they
should give them up, whereupon Mr. Johnston gave an evidence how
deserving he was of the trust reposed in him, by producing on the table
five books (being now seven in all), which were sufficient to make up a
register of the church, from the beginning of the reformation; which was
very acceptable to the whole assembly.

In the 24th session of this assembly, a commission was given to Mr.
Johnston to be their procurator, and Mr. Dalgliesh to be their agent;
and in their last session of December 20, an act passed, allowing him
the instruction of all treaties and papers that concerned the church,
prohibiting all printers from publishing any thing of that kind, not
licensed by him.

But the king and the Canterburian faction, being highly displeased with
the proceedings of this assembly, advanced with an army toward the
borders, which made the covenanters, seeing the danger they were exposed
unto, raise another army, with which, under the command of general
Leslie, they marched towards the king's army, now encamped on the south
side of Tweed, about three miles above Berwick. Upon their approach, the
English began to faint, whereupon the king and the English nobility
desired a treaty, which was easily granted by the Scots, who appointed
the earls of Rothes, Dunfermline and Loudon, the sheriff of Teviotdale,
Mr. Henderson and Mr. Archibald Johnston advocate for the church, as
their commissioners to treat with the English commissioners, to whom his
majesty granted a safe conduct upon the 9th of June, 1639. The Scots,
having made known their demands, condescended upon several particulars,
which were answered by the other side. On the 17th and the day
following, the articles of specification were subscribed to by both
parties, in sight of both armies at Birks near Berwick.