other kingdoms,
which God Almighty, who is privie to Our Intentions, and in whom We trust,
will in his own time bring to a wished and peaceable conclusion, We are
not unmindfull of that duetie which we owe to that Our ancient and native
Kingdome, and to the Kirks there, now met together by their Commissioners
in a Nationall Assembly. God whose Vice-gerent We are, hath made Us a King
over divers Kingdomes, and We have no other desire, nor designe, but to
govern them by their own Lawes, and the Kirks in them by their own Canons
and Constitutions. Where any thing is found to be amisse, We will
endeavour a Reformation in a fair and orderly way; and where a Reformation
is settled, We resolve, with that authoritie where with God hath in vested
Us, to maintain and defend it in peace and libertie, against all trouble
that can come from without, and against all Heresies, Sects, and Schismes
which may arise from within. Nor do We desire any thing more in that
Kingdom (and when We shall hear of it, it shall be a delight and matter of
gladnesse unto Us) then that the Gospel be faithfully preached throughout
the whole Kingdom, to the outmost skirts and borders thereof. Knowing that
to be the mean of honour to God, of happinesse to the people, and of true
obedience to Us. And for this effect, that holy and able men be put in
places of the Ministery, and that Schooles and Colledges may flourish in
Learning and true Pietie. Some things for advancing of those ends, We did
of Our own accord promise in Our Letters to the last Assembly, and We make
your selves Judges, who were witnesses to Our Actions, while We were there
in Person, whether we did not perform them both in the point of
presentations which are in our hands, and in the liberall provision of all
the Universities and Colledges of the Kingdome, not only above that which
any of Our Progenitors had done before Us, but also above your owne hopes
and expectation. We doe not make commemoration of this Our Beneficence,
either to please Ourselves, or to stop the influence of Our Royal
goodnesse and Bountie for afterward, but that by these reall
demonstrations of Our unfained desires and delight to do good, you may be
the more confident to expect from Us, whatsoever in Justice We can grant,
or what may be expedient for you to obtaine. We have given expresse charge
to Our Commissioner, to see that all things be done there orderly and
peaceably, as if We were present in Our Own Person; not d