Four_queries

and to bless our desires and proceedings with a happy success, that Religion and Rightousness may flourish in the Land, to the Glory of God, the Honour of our King, and peace and confort of us all. In witness whereof we have subscribed with our hands all the premisssses, etc.

To which in Vindication of Royal Authority, and the Monarchical Government of Scotland, His Majesty propounded these Four Queries.

I. By what Authority they entred into this Covenant, and how they durst presume to Administer an Oath to His Majesties Subjects?

[Margin note] His Majesties Queries against the Convent

It is certain no Publick Oath can be tendred but by a Magistrate; and though they Answer they have a Precedent, though not a Law, (viz.) That King James and His Household subscribed this Confession, Anno 1580. and all Ranks by Order of Council and Assembly, Anno 1581. and by a new Order of Council at the desire of the Assembly, with a general Band for maintenance of the True Religion, and the King's Person, Anno. 1590. Yet this Confession and Covenant was not Commanded or Subscribed by His Majesty, as the other was by His Royal Father: and the Judgment of the General Assembly though then at highest, by their request made it evident that no Authority could renew that Command but the same which at first imposed it. On the contrary, when His Majesty by Proclamation Commanded the renewing that Oath, the Tables refused to swear it themselves, and Commanded that none in the Kingdom should take it by any Authority from His Majesty, thereby devesting His Majesty of His Authority, and setting up their own above His.

II. If they had had a power to impose this Oath, yet what had they for interpreting it? for no less Authority can interpret a Law than the same which made it. His Majesty and those Judges deputed by Him are therefore the only true Interpreters of this Oath: and the other interpreetation is not onely illegal but false and ridiculous, contrary to Reason, Religion, Honesty and Conscience, when they say this Confession ought to be understood of all their pretended Novations, no less than if they had been particularly expressed in the said Consession, for how can any person safely swear, that the Framers of that first Confession intended it against the five Articles of Pearth, the Service-Book, Canons and High Commission, things they never heard of while alive, but intended it only against such Romish Corruptions as then infested the Church. And therefore with more wit than honesty where they met with no scruples, the Convenanters suffered

[margin note: The Ingenuity of the Convenanters.]

suffered the People to swallow that interpretation so quite contrary to the Text of the Confession; but where the Ministers or others, who had sworn obedience to those Points. scrupled that Gloss, they assured them it would breed a great Division to alter the words of the Convenant ; but that they might very well swear with a reservation of not abjuring Episcopacy, the Articles of Pearth, or any thing Established by Acts of Parliament or the General Assembly: with which Jesuitical reservation on the part of the Imposers many of the Ministers swore their Covenant.

III. How could they take upon them to add to the former Confession? That was made for Defence of His Majesties Person and Authority with their Fortunes, Bodies and Lives, in defence of the Gospel of Christ and the Liberties of the Kingdom : whereas by their own Authority they have superadded a mutual defence of one another against all persons whatsoever, not excepting His Majesty; which is in effect, if His Majesty shall oppose their Courses, to oppose Him and all such as adhere to Him and their Loyalty. And whether King James in the first Confession and Band intended it against His Son and Successor, or the intention of that be a Warrant for this, or how the Covenanters could swear to defend his Majesties Person and Authority, and yet to defend one another against all persons whatsoever let the whole World be Judge.

IV. What defence can they make against those Acts of Parliament which ordain all such to be punished as movers of Sedition, and disturbers of the Publick Peace, who league themselves together without the knowledge or approbation of their Sovereign? Which Acts are these following.

The Tenth Parliament of James the Sixth, Act 12.

Forasmuch as there was an Act made in the Regiment of Mary, late Queen Dowager, and Regent of this Realm, Our Sovereign Lords Grandmother of worthy memory concerning Leagues and Bands, as being thought, against all Law and Obedience of Subjects towards their Princes ; The not observation of which Act since the making, have given occasion of many troubles which have occured since : Wherefore Our Sovereaign Lord, with the advice of His three Estates, convened in this present Parliament, ratifieth, ap roveth, and for his Successors perpetually confirmeth the said Act of Parliament, and ordaineth the same to have full effect