, or secret
Counsel made thereanent: And that particular account be craved hereof in
every General Assembly.

TO THE KINGS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE,

_The humble Answer of the National Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland._

Although the many and ample testimonies of Your Majesties Royal favour and
bountie towards this Kirk and Kingdome be living and lasting Monuments to
hold all Your Majesties good Subjects and us most of all, in remembrance
of that duty, which we owe to Your Majestie our great Benefactour, never
by any length of time to be deleted out of our minds: Yet when we remember
even of conscience we owe honour and subjection unto Your Majestie as our
dread Soveraigne, as well in Your Majesties absence as presence, We finde
our obligation to be Religious, and thereby much increased: And therefore
have we at this time in all our consultations and conclusions, of which
some have been of more then ordinary weight and concernment, in answer to
certain Propositions, made unto us by the Commissioners of the Houses of
Parliament of Your Majesties Kingdome of England, and some Reverend
Divines assisting them, fixed our eyes and thoughts upon Your Majesties
honour and happinesse, with no other and with no lesse intention, then if
we had been honoured by Your Majesties Royal Person in our Assembly. And
in like manner have given such Instructions to some Ministers and others,
to be sent unto the Assembly of Divines now in England, as next unto the
honour of God, and the good of Religion, may most serve for Your Majesties
preservation, and the peace of Your Kingdomes: Concerning which, the
Commissioners of the last General Assembly have so fully exprest their
humble thoughts and desires in their Supplication and Remonstrance sent
unto Your Majestie, that we need not adde any thing, and Your Majesties
times and affairs forbid all repetition. We do onely in all humilitie
beseech Your Majestie to judge of us and our proceedings, by the nature
and necessity of our vocation, and the rules prescribed in the word of God
for our direction, and not by uncertain rumours, and ungrounded reports of
such men as have not the fear of God before their eyes. And do earnestly
pray to God Almighty, in whose hands are the hearts of Kings, to incline
Your Majesties heart to the counsels of truth and peace, to direct Your
Government for the good of your People, the punishment of male-factours,
and praise of well-doers, that this fire of unnat