Forsameikle as out of the royall and fatherly care which we have had of the good and peace of this our ancient and native kingdome , having taken to our serious consideration all such things as might have given contentment to our good and loyall subjects : and to this end had discharged by our proclamation the service book , book of canons , and high commission , freed and liberate all men from the practising of the five articles , made all our subjects both ecclesiasticall and civill lyable to the censure of Parliament , generall Assembly , or any other judicatorie competent , according to the nature and qualitie of the offence : and for the free entrie of ministers , that no other oath be administrate unto them then that which is contained in the act of parliament : had declared all by-gone disorders absolutely forgotten and forgiven : and for the more full and cleare extirpating all ground and occasion of fears of innovation of religion , we had commanded the confession of faith , and band for maintenance thereof , and of authoritie in defence of the same , subscribed by our deare Father , and his houshold , in anno 1580. to be renued and subscribed again by our subjects here : Like as for settling of a perfect peace in the church and common-wealth of this kingdome , we caused indict a free generall assembly to be holden at Glasgow the xxi . of this instant , and thereafter a parliament in May , 1639. By which clement dealing , we looked assuredly to have reduced our subjects to their former quiet behaviour and dutifull carriage , whereto they are bound by the word of God , and laws both nationall and municipall , to us their native and soveraigne prince . And albeit the wished effects did not follow , but by the contrary , by our so gracious procedure they were rather emboldened , not only to continue in their stubborne and unlawfull wayes , but also daily adde to their former procedures acts of neglect , and contempt of authoritie , as evidently appeared by open opposing of our just and religious pleasure and command , exprest in our last proclamation anent the discharge of the service book , book of canons , high commission , &c. protesting against the same , and striving by many indirect meanes to withdraw the hearts of our good people , not only from a hearty acknowledgement of our gracious dealing with them , but also from the due obedience to those our just and religious commands , notwithstanding we had been formerly so oft petitioned by themselves for the same . By their daily and hourely guarding and watching about our Castle of Edinburgh , suffering nothing to be imported therein , but at their discretion , And openly stopping and impeding any importation of ammunition , or other necessaries whatsoever to any other of our houses within that kingdome : Denying to us their soveraigne Lord that libertie and freedome , which the meanest of them assume to themselves ( an act without precedent or example in the Christian world ) By making of convocations and councell tables of Nobilitie , Gentrie , Burrows and Ministers within the city of Edinburgh , where not regarding the lawes of the kingdome , they without warrant of authoritie conveene , assemble , and treat upon matters , as well ecclesiasticall as civill , send their injunctions and directions throughout the countrey to their subordinate tables , and other under ministers appointed by them for that effect . And under colour and pretext of religion exercing an unwarranted and unbounded libertie , require obedience to their illegall and unlawfull procedures and directions , to the great and seen prejudice of authoritie , and lawfull monarchicall government . And notwithstanding it was evidently manifest by the illegall and unformall course taken in the election of their commissioners for the assembly , whereof some are under the censure of this church , some under the censure of the church of Ireland , and some long since banished for open and avowed teaching against monarchie , others of them suspended , and some admitted to the ministerie contrary to the forme prescribed by the lawes of this kingdome , others of them a long time since denounced rebels , and put to the horne , who by all law and unviolable custome and practique of this kingdome , are , and ever have been incapable , either to pursue , or defend before any judicatorie , far lesse to be judges themselves ; some of them confined , and all of them by oath and subscription bound to the overthrow of episcopacie . And by this and other their under-hand working , and private informations and perswasions , have given just ground of suspicion of their partialitie herein , and so made themselves unfit judges of what concerneth episcopacie . And als it was sufficiently cleared by the peremptorie and illegall procedures of the presbyteries , who at their own hand by order of law , and without due forme of processe , thrust out the moderators lawfully established , and placed others , whom they found most inclinable to their turbulent humors , associate to themselves for the choosing of the said commissioners for the assembly , a laick elder out of each paroch , who being in most places equall , if not moe in number then the ministerie , made choice both of the ministers , who should be commissioners from the presbyteries , as also of a ruling elder , being directed more therein by the warrants from the foresaid pretended tables , then by their own judgements , as appears by the severall private instructions sent from them , far contrary to the lawes of the countrey , and lowable custome of the church : by which doings it is too manifest , that no calme nor peaceable procedure or course could have been expected from this assembly , for settling of the present disorders and distractions . Yet we were pleased herein in some sort to blinde-fold our own judgement , and over-look the saids disorders , and patiently to attend the meeting of the said assembly , still hoping that when they were met together , by our Commissioner his presence , and assistance of such other well disposed subjects who were to be there , and by their own seeing the reall performance of all that was promised by our last proclamation , they should have been induced to return to their due obedience of subjects : But perceiving that their seditious disposition still increases , by their repairing to the said assembly with great bands and troupes of men , all boddin in fear of warre , with guns and pistolets , contrary to the lawes of this kingdome , custome observed in all assemblies , and in high contempt of our last proclamation at Edinburgh the xvi . of this instant : as also by their peremptory refusing of our assessors , authorized by us ( although fewer in number then our dearest father was in use to have at divers assemblies ) the power of voting in this assembly , as formerly they have done in other assemblies ; and by their partiall , unjust and unchristian refusing , and not suffering to be read the reasons and arguments given in by the Bishops , and their adherents to our Commissioner , why the assembly ought not to proceed to the election of a moderator without them , neither yet to the admitting of any of the commissioners of the saids commissioners from presbyteries , before they were heard object against the same , though earnestly required by our Commissioner in our name . And notwithstanding that our Commissioner under his hand , by warrant from us , gave in a sufficient declaration of all that was contained in our late proclamation and declaration , the same bearing likewise our pleasure of the registration of the same in the books of assembly for the full assurance of the true religion to all our good subjects ; And yet not resting satisfied therewith , lest the continuance of their meeting together might produce other the like dangerous acts , derogatorie to royall authoritie , we have thought good , for preveening thereof , and for the whole causes and reasons above-mentioned , and divers others importing the true monarchicall government of this estate , to dissolve and break up the said assembly . And therefore

OUR WILL is , and we do discharge and inhibit all and whatsoever pretended commissioners , and other members of the said pretended assembly , of all further meeting and conveening , treating and concluding any thing belonging to the said assembly , under the pain of treason , declaring all and whatsoever that they shall happen to do in any pretended meeting thereafter , to be null , of no strength , force nor effect , with all that may follow thereupon : Prohibiting and discharging all our lieges to give obedience thereto , and declaring them , and every one of them , free and exempt from the same , and of all hazzard that may ensue for not obeying thereof . And for this effect we command and charge all the foresaids pretended commissioners , and other members of the said assembly , to depart forth of this city of Glasgow within the space of xxiiii ▪ houres after the publication hereof , and to repair home to their own houses , or that they go about their own private affaires in a quiet manner . With speciall provision alwaies , that the foresaid declaration , given in under our Commissioners hand , with all therein contained , shall notwithstanding hereof stand full , firme and sure to all our good subjects in all time coming , for the full assurance to them of the true religion . And our will is , and we command and charge , that incontinent these our letters seen , ye passe , and make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosse of Glasgow , and other places needfull , wherethrough none pretend ignorance of the same .