THE generall Assemblie at Linlithgowe 26. Iuli , 1608. appointed 10. approving the present kirk governement , and 10. affecting the Hierarchie of Lord Bishoppes , to conferre about middesses , to determine questions controverted among Ministers , but referred the determination it selfe to the next generall Assembly then and there agreed vpon touching tyme and place , and that with consent of Dumbar the Kings Commissioner , according to the Statute . These 20. met at Falklande . The Bishops would have made a question , whether the governement of the Kirk by Synodes and Presbiteries , or by the Bishopps , were more agreeable to the word of God . The other side would not yeelde to make a question of that point , because the present Kirk governement by Synodes and Presbiteries was without controversie established by Parleament and former Assemblies , & further confirmed by the Oathes of his Maiestie , the Nobles & Ministers . And therefore without the compasse of their commission from the general Assemblies The Bishops being defeated of their purpose ( which was suspending the execution of Discipline , if question had been made thereof , as may appeare by the sequell ) the conference was so adiorned , that it never helde againe , neither the generall Assemblie , though by such lawfull consent appointed for some weekes before the last day appointed , it was forbidden by proclamation . And why ? If it had convened in dewe order , then everie Presbiterie should have freely chosen 2. or 3. of the same to be Commissioners for the generall Assemblie , and ( in all likelihood ) would have given them such directions to bee observed vppon payne of Nullitie on their proceeding , and of deposition and excommunication , if they proceeded otherwise , as all the Presbiteries did in one forme at the saide former assemblie , viz. that they should not give their consent to anie alteration of the Kirk governement , &c. All this being against the Kings purpose , it pleased his Maiestie to sende Dumbar ( a man after his owne heart ) with a multitude of Letters , some to severall Presbyteries , and some to particular persons , such as could readilie saie , Placer . The Bishopps ( forsooth ) accompanied everie Bishop in his owne Diocesse : the Kings letters , with theirs to the Presbiterie , as if the Kings Letters were not sufficient without theirs . The parport of both letters was peremptorilie to charge the Presbiteries , to sende to the Assemblie to be at Glasco 8. Iunij . that verie man whom the King named , and in no sorte to give them direction , that they might be free to vote as the King & they them selves would .

Before the Assemblie ( or rather Dissemblie ) convened , Dumbar and the Bishops had three dayes serious conference to plott all matters : when those tractable men were come , Dumbar honorablie entertayned them with Balaams wages ( perhaps sub nomine viatici ) as he had formerlie intertayned the like Assemblie at Linlithgowe Anno 1606. at what time ( vijs & modis ) he set vp a constant Moderator , to make way for a Lord Bishop to be advanced in fulnes of time , whiche was even nowe . For as Daniel , vnderstandinge by bookes , that the time of captivitie was expired , fasted and prayed that Gods people might returne to their owne lande , so the Apostolicall ( I should say ) Apostaticall Prelates , knowing by certayne intelligence , that the time of casting off Christ his yoke was come , fasted and prayed ( I say not by Daniels spirit ) thus Lordly , or ( as the King calles them ) Papall Bishops , might Dominere over the Lords inheritance . The first that preached was the Archbishop of Glasco , his text was , Ier. 51.9 . We would have cured Babel , &c. This hee applied onely to Rome . But why did not the Archb. applie it thus : So wee would haue repaired Babel , that is the Hierarchie of Papall Bishopps , which is a principall tower of that great Cittie which ruleth over Kings ? Belike Dumbar & the Bishops had appointed that parte to be played by other . For the seconde Preacher was the Bishop of Oarkeny , whose text was , Rom. 14.19 . Let vs followe those things which concerne peace : He shewed that peace is kept by keping Truth . But whereas Truth touching the authoritie of Bishops over Presbiteries , was contraverted , He taught that Prelaticall truth thus : What greater reason can be than the practise of the Apostles and the consent of the primitive Church , with authoritie of old and new Fathers , as Bez● , Iunius , Calvin , &c. Againe , it is of it selfe eyther indifferent , or commmaunded , or contrarie to the word : it can not be indifferent none ( he thinkes ) can shewe it to be contrarie to the word . Therefore it must be commaunded in the word . Lastlie , it hath the commaund of our mightie King , who for knowledge of Theologie , exceedeth farre all the Doctors of Divinitie . Therefore what ingratitude shall it be to vs to refuse so necessarie a law , a burden to vs Bishops , but to the Kirk of God the onely perfection of hir libertie in this life . This done , the people were dismissed a while . In which space the dissemblie chooseth the Archb. of Glasco Moderator , and a privie conference ( whiche Englishmen call a Comittie ) vppon which were Dumbar , the Bishops , many Statesmen , and some deemed opposites to Bishops , as M. Hall , M. Copar , &c. The Archbishop produced the K. Letters , wherein he professed care to maintaine discipline , whereof his Ma. ever thought Bishops to be the ground and piller , And therefore hath convocated the Dissemblie to establish them in their ful power , having long wayted and looked that the Presbiteries shold have done it of themselves . Behold here Prelaticall Theologie . Beholde the Prelats fast , In the midst of the pretended humbling their soules in a solemne manne : before the King of Kings , an earthlie Kings letter must be read , elections must bee made , they must fall to their busines , before they have ended their fasting and prayer for direction and a blessing , But confused proceedings are fitt for a worke of confusion intended . Well at last they go to the third Sermon made by Doct. Hodge sone ( one of Dumbar his English Chaplaines ) his text was , Act. 2.1 . his doctrine of cookes and kitching stuffe . And yet hee had one argument of note for the superioritie of L. Bishops , viz. Christ taught some of his Apostles at the head , some in his bosome , and some at his feete , Ergo , potlid . The next day being Satterdy , the dissemblie convened about 8. houres , but sate looking one on another , till about elleven ; The cause was opposition in the privie conference betweene Maist. Iohn Hall , &c. and the Bishops about their negative voyce in Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction . The Bishopsoath to the contrarie being vrged , Dumbar produced a Lettre from the King to the Bishopps , commaunding them eyther to accept their whole office , or to quite their places : So were the Bishopps freed from their oath , the matter therevpon presentlie carried with pluralitie of voyces , and then they went to the Assemblie , wherein nothing was done that forenoone , onely the Archbishoppe being Moderator , excused the longe staying of the privie conference , and M. Primros would have protested against the proceedings of that Dissemblie , but was interrupted by the Moderator , because it was high dinner time , and referred to the privie conference , after that Glasco ( the Dissemblie then risen ) had drawne him to discover his purpose . In the afternoone the privie conference met , and make vpp their conclusions , viz. 1. The Assemblie at Abirdeen was vnlawful . 2. All power of convening , & discharging generall Assemblies , pertayneth only to the King . 3. Ordination , admission , deprivation , & suspention . 4. Visitation of Churches , and 5. Excommunication and absolution be proper to the Bishopps : if they be slacke , the generall Assemblie shall trie & report to his Ma. that he may censure them according to their merit . 6. Synodes are to meete yearelie in October , and April , and the Bishopp is to bee Moderator . 7. The Presbiterian Moderator , is to bee the Bishop him selfe , or shal be chosen with his consent . 8. Ministers admitted , shall give the oath of obedience to the King & his Ordinarie . 9. Whosoever shall preach , write , or speak against these conclusions , shal be deprived . The Moderator propounded these to the Dissemblie , not severallie to bee discussed , but altogether ioyntlie as one , requiring every one to answere , yea , or no : having made way to the first , with this reason : The brethren banished , have promised to confesse a fault to his Maiestie , if they shal be condemned by a generall Assemblie , and so to returne ●o their owne Congregation . O reason Archiepiscopall ! But what if the banished brethren protest against this dissemblie , & pleade that they be vniustlie condemned , because they be not heard what they can say for them selves .

The Moderator likewise desired the dissemblie , that a letter might be penned to request his Ma. for a yearelie Assemblie , orat the least to appointe certen tymes , as hee should thinke expedient . Beholde a Machevillian trick , by a pretended Synode to weaken the authoritie of Parliament in a Statute made in anno 1592. whereby it is ordayned , that there should be a general Assemblie at least once every yeare , and to give the King onely all authoritie to call generall Assemblies at his pleasure , hat statute notwithstanding . Moreover , before their votes was particularly demanded , an ordinarie was made that none should speak but speared at . When votes were demanded , the affirmatives carried all before them , but some negatives charged the conclusions to bee contrarie to Gods word : Some pleaded their oath to maintayne Discipline so many yeres established , and some answered , they had no commission from their Presbiteries . Furthermore , these conclusions get the more ready passage , because a feare was conceived that Dumbar had the Kinges guarde present to commit such as should earnestlie withstand the Kings purpose . For his Lo. professed that he would have no man there that should give countenan e of mislike . Lastlie , to make all sure , there were in this dissemblie besides the 13. Bish. Nobles 13. and Gentlemen 40. which were not chosen by Synodes or Presbyteries to carrie the matter with pluralitie of votes , if in aunters , many Ministers should stand for their presbiteries , al other devises notwithstanding . When this transcendent authoritie of papall Bish. was thus obtained , Dumbar produced an instrument from the King , vtterlie to discharge al the Presbiteries . If question had ben made in the conference at Faulkland before mentioned of the then present kirk-government , would not Dumbar have plaid the pranke even then to suspend the excom. therof ? When the discharge of Presbiteries was red , ther was an outcry in the Assemblie : Dumbar tooke that occasion to promise vppon his honor , to perswade the King , if he could , to recall that discharge : Provided they would subscribe the conclusions whervnto they had consented . By this cunning he got the hands aswell as the votes of manie sworne Balamits . The next day being Sabbath , the Kings Chaplaines D. Hampton & D. Merdon , preached one in the forenone , t'hother in the afternoone . D. Hamptons text was , Psal. 122.1 . I reioyced . &c. In his doctrine hee taxed sacrilegious persons , who robbed God of his tenthes , reproved the forme of Discipline by Synodes and Presbiteries , & proved the superiorities of Bishops thus : To one maintaining paritie , another said , begin paritie in your owne house , Ergo the staffe stands in the church conner . M. Moret . text was , 2 Cor. 1.12 . Our reioycing is the testimonie of a good conscience . A principall part of his doctrine was , a maintenance of superioritie of Bishops , with these reasons : 1. There was superioritie amongst Priests in the old Testament . 2. Though the high Priest was a type of Christ , yet there were Captaines over the Priestes & Levites . 3. Paul left Titus at Creta to ordaine Elders , and it is not said . I leave thee an Evangelist . 4. Act. 20.28 . & Revel. 2.1 . conferred togither . 5. Bees and Cranes have their governors , yea Angells have Gabriel , & Devills have Belzebub their princes , Ergo , the Pope is no oecumenicall Bishop . On Munday the Moderator praysing God for the happie successe in the first cause of that dissemblie propounded . 2. Moe , viz. Taking order with papistes , & provision for Ministers , touching the which Dumbar & 4. Bishops should meete , make vp a roll of excommunicants & vnplanted churches , and sende it to the King . So the dissemblie was dismissed , now new appointed , & Psal. 133. chanted . As Dumber , Bish. Noble men , and others returned by Stirling , M. Patrik Symson made such a sermon as grieved them at the hart , but nothing was saide vnto him . At their comming to Eding . M. Walter Bakanquell made a mightie sermon against the whole proceeding of the dissemblie , for which he was called before the Counsell . But dismissed with admonition , and M. Patrike Galloway in his first sermon after his returne to Edingborough from Perth . ( where hee had beene all the time of the Assemblie ) inveyed ( though wiselie yet sensiblie ) against the dissemblie , and threatned iudgementes , because of the same .