They carried their Bibles to show their authority.
Resolution gleamed in the face of the grey-headed and flashed from the
eyes of the young men as they stood side by side. Their adversaries were
overawed and made conciliatory promises. The Covenanters therefore
withdrew.

The promises were quickly broken. One month later, a fresh attempt by
the king and his counselors to trample the heaven-given right to worship
God with a free conscience stirred the country. The Covenanters were
alert, they were not caught napping. They concentrated their strength
upon the Capital once more, and this time with a speed that surprised
the government. Their number was greater than before; hundreds of
ministers, and hundreds of noblemen, with strong delegations of elders
from many congregations assembled for the occasion. The vast concourse
of people was too unwieldy to meet in one place; they therefore divided
into four sections, each going in its own direction. They held meetings
for prayer and consultation, realizing deeply the dangers that were
converging upon their Church, their homes, and their persons. They
prepared petitions to be presented to the king. Once more they received
assurance of relief, and quietly returned to their homes.

The months rolled past heavily. Mild September had seen the country
greatly agitated; bountiful October had witnessed the recurrence and
increase of violent measures; November now came, chilled with sleety
storms, and vexed with man's perfidy and cruel attempt to crush
conscience. More desperate efforts were again in progress by the king
and those who supported him in his claim of supremacy over the Church
and power to regulate her worship. The Covenanters were apprised, and
for the third time the roads converging upon Edinburgh were filled with
their dauntless ranks. They came on foot, on horses, and in wagons; old
men with white locks and young men with iron nerve; ministers and
elders, noblemen and commoners. These were men who were exalted into
Covenant with the Almighty; they had tasted the sweetness of the liberty
of the sons of God; they had felt the energy of the Holy Spirit throb in
their hearts; they had visions of the KING OF KINGS in His transcendent
glory. They came with one resolve--that Jesus Christ must not be
superseded by the king of Scotland in the government of the Church. They
poured into the Capital in strong, living streams, till the city was
almost deluged with their number.