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may_v just_o challenge_v you_o for_o not_o answer_v that_o which_o we_o object_v concern_v the_o second_o part_n of_o that_o act_n for_o it_o reach_v far_o than_o that_o act_n make_v in_o queen_n mary_n time_n and_o of_o new_a statute_v and_o ordain_v that_o in_o time_n come_v no_o league_n or_o band_n be_v make_v among_o his_o majesty_n subject_n of_o any_o degree_n upon_o whatsoever_o colour_n or_o preâ—ence_n without_o his_o highness_n or_o his_o successoures_n privity_n and_o consent_n have_v and_o obtain_v thereto_o under_o the_o paiâ—e_n to_o be_v hold_v and_o execute_v as_o mover_n of_o sedition_n and_o unquyetnesse_n etc._n etc._n whereunto_o also_o be_v consonant_a the_o 131._o act_n make_v in_o the_o 8_o parliament_n of_o king_n james_n the_o six_o anno_fw-la 1584._o where_o it_o be_v â—â—atuted_v and_o ordain_v by_o the_o king_n and_o his_o three_o estate_n that_o none_o of_o his_o highness_n subject_n of_o whatsoever_o quality_n estate_n or_o function_n they_o be_v of_o 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for_o justify_v of_o your_o union_n as_o you_o call_v it_o you_o have_v amass_v a_o great_a number_n of_o act_n oâ—_n parliament_n and_o insert_v they_o in_o the_o book_n of_o your_o covenant_n we_o omit_v the_o misapply_n of_o these_o act_n which_o be_v make_v against_o popery_n and_o not_o against_o all_o these_o thing_n which_o you_o do_v now_o resist_v as_o popish_a neither_o can_v we_o perceive_v how_o these_o act_n of_o parliament_n adduce_v by_o you_o to_o justisie_n your_o union_n prove_v that_o point_n moreover_o some_o of_o these_o act_n cite_v by_o you_o as_o namely_o the_o 114_o act_n make_v in_o parliament_n anno_fw-la 1592._o in_o so_o far_o as_o it_o be_v against_o episcopal_a government_n and_o all_o other_o of_o that_o sort_n be_v express_o rescind_v by_o a_o posterior_n act_n make_v in_o parliament_n anno_fw-la 1612._o how_o can_v you_o in_o a_o legal_a dispute_n for_o justify_v your_o union_n produce_v rescinded_a act_n as_o if_o they_o be_v stand_v law_n and_o pass_v by_o the_o posterior_n act_n which_o be_v yet_o law_n stand_v in_o vigour_n whereby_o these_o other_o act_n be_v rescind_v 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d i_o e._n constitutiones_fw-la tempore_fw-la posteriores_fw-la poâ—â—ores_fw-la sunt_fw-la his_o quâ—_n ipsas_fw-la praecesserunt_fw-la â—â—_o de_fw-la constitutionibus_fw-la principum_fw-la l._n 4._o 4._o we_o do_v adhere_v in_o our_o former_a reply_n not_o only_o to_o the_o letter_n but_o also_o according_a to_o our_o conception_n without_o prejudice_n of_o better_a information_n to_o the_o very_a reason_n and_o life_n of_o the_o law_n the_o sentence_n cite_v by_o you_o to_o wit_n salus_fw-la reipub._n suprema_fw-la lex_fw-la esto_fw-la or_o the_o esto_fw-la safety_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n shall_v be_v the_o chief_a law_n serve_v for_o a_o good_a direction_n to_o ruler_n in_o make_v or_o change_v of_o law_n or_o in_o judge_v according_a to_o they_o whence_o in_o the_o law_n of_o
in_o brotherly_a love_n exhort_v and_o entreat_v we_o to_o contribute_v our_o best_a endeavour_n for_o extinguish_v the_o common_a combustion_n we_o praise_v god_n for_o your_o pious_a zeal_n and_o for_o the_o lovingnesse_n and_o modesty_n of_o your_o speech_n wherein_o by_o god_n help_n we_o shall_v labour_v to_o keep_v correspondence_n with_o you_o that_o both_o we_o and_o you_o may_v show_v â—â—â—_o self_n to_o have_v learn_v of_o christ_n meekness_n and_o lowliness_n of_o heart_n we_o most_o willing_o promise_v to_o do_v so_o by_o all_o mean_n which_o our_o conscience_n will_v permit_v we_o to_o use_v as_o also_o to_o join_v our_o most_o humble_a and_o hearty_a prayer_n with_o you_o that_o it_o may_v please_v god_n in_o this_o dangerous_a exigent_n to_o do_v good_a in_o his_o good_a pleasure_n to_o our_o zion_n and_o to_o build_v up_o the_o wall_n of_o our_o jerusalem_n †_o 4._o we_o may_v just_o say_v that_o this_o new_a covenant_n be_v substantial_o different_a from_o the_o old_a which_o be_v make_v anno_fw-la 1581._o in_o respect_n it_o not_o only_o contain_v that_o old_a covenant_n or_o confession_n which_o be_v allow_v by_o two_o general_n assembly_n but_o also_o your_o interpretation_n of_o it_o which_o as_o yet_o have_v no_o such_o authority_n or_o approbation_n †_o 5._o no_o band_n of_o mutual_a defence_n against_o all_o person_n whatsoev_a be_v express_v in_o the_o covenant_n make_v 1581._o and_o although_o it_o be_v yet_o the_o case_n be_v very_o unlike_a for_o subject_n may_v make_v such_o a_o covenant_n of_o mutual_a defence_n by_o arm_n with_o the_o consent_n of_o the_o king_n who_o only_o under_o god_n have_v the_o power_n of_o arm_n or_o of_o the_o sword_n in_o this_o kingdom_n but_o they_o who_o make_v this_o late_a covenant_n have_v not_o his_o consent_n as_o that_o former_a or_o old_a covenant_n have_v which_o be_v a_o thing_n so_o evident_a that_o no_o man_n can_v call_v it_o in_o question_n †_o 6._o as_o for_o that_o which_o you_o affirm_v here_o that_o my_o lord_n commissioner_n his_o grace_n be_v well_o satisfy_v with_o your_o declaration_n it_o become_v not_o we_o to_o pry_v narrow_o into_o his_o grace_n do_n but_o true_o we_o have_v more_o than_o reason_n to_o pry_v most_o narrow_o into_o the_o word_n of_o a_o covenant_n which_o be_v offer_v unto_o we_o to_o be_v swear_v and_o subscrybed_n lest_o we_o abuse_v and_o profane_v the_o sacred_a name_n of_o god_n and_o tie_v ourselves_o to_o the_o do_v of_o any_o thing_n which_o be_v displease_v unto_o he_o last_o of_o all_o whereas_o you_o desire_v we_o to_o join_v ourselves_o to_o you_o and_o to_o the_o rest_n of_o your_o confederacy_n who_o be_v as_o you_o affirm_v almost_o the_o whole_a church_n and_o kingdom_n true_o we_o can_v but_o reverence_v such_o a_o multitude_n of_o our_o reverend_a brethren_n and_o dear_a countryman_n and_o be_v ready_a to_o be_v follower_n of_o they_o in_o so_o far_o as_o they_o be_v follower_n of_o christ_n but_o neither_o can_v we_o do_v any_o thing_n against_o the_o truth_n neither_o can_v we_o attribute_v so_o much_o authority_n to_o their_o multitude_n as_o otherwise_o we_o will_v in_o respect_n there_o have_v be_v so_o much_o deal_n for_o subscription_n in_o all_o quarter_n of_o this_o kingdom_n and_o so_o many_o have_v be_v threaten_v to_o give_v their_o consent_n as_o we_o be_v most_o credible_o inform_v the_o second_o demand_n whether_o or_o no_o we_o ought_v to_o subscryve_v the_o foresay_a covenant_n see_v all_o covenant_n of_o mutual_a defence_n by_o force_n of_o arm_n make_v among_o subject_n of_o any_o degree_n upon_o whatsoever_o colour_n or_o pretence_n without_o the_o king_n majesty_n or_o his_o successoures_n privity_n and_o consent_n be_v express_o forbid_v by_o king_n james_n of_o bless_a memory_n and_o the_o three_o estate_n of_o this_o kingdom_n in_o the_o parliament_n hold_v at_o linlithgow_n anno_fw-la 1585._o answer_n the_o act_n of_o parliament_n forbid_v in_o the_o first_o part_n league_n and_o band_n of_o maintenance_n privily_o make_v such_o as_o be_v call_v band_n of_o manrent_a as_o the_o act_n in_o queen_n mary_n time_n to_o which_o it_o have_v relation_n do_v bear_v and_o in_o the_o second_o part_n only_o such_o as_o tend_v to_o the_o public_a disturbance_n of_o the_o peace_n of_o the_o realm_n by_o move_a sedition_n but_o no_o act_n of_o parliament_n do_v discharge_v nor_o can_v any_o just_a law_n forbid_v convention_n or_o covenant_n in_o the_o general_a or_o such_o covenant_n in_o special_a as_o be_v make_v with_o god_n and_o among_o ourselves_o not_o for_o any_o man_n particular_a but_o for_o the_o common_a benefit_n of_o all_o not_o to_o move_v sedition_n but_o to_o preserve_v peace_n and_o to_o prevent_v trouble_n which_o by_o all_o probability_n have_v be_v to_o many_o before_o this_o time_n too_o sensible_a if_o this_o course_n have_v not_o be_v take_v convention_n and_o covenant_n in_o the_o judgement_n of_o jurisconsult_v be_v to_o be_v esteem_v and_o judge_v of_o according_a to_o their_o diverse_a end_n good_a or_o bad_a which_o make_v king_n james_n of_o happy_a memory_n to_o take_v it_o for_o a_o undoubted_a maxim_n that_o pro_fw-la aris_fw-la &_o focis_fw-la &_o pro_fw-la patre_fw-la patriae_fw-la the_o whole_a body_n of_o the_o commonwealth_n shall_v stir_v at_o once_o not_o any_o more_o as_o divide_a member_n but_o as_o one_o consolidate_a lump_n replye_n in_o that_o second_o part_n of_o that_o act_n of_o parliament_n hold_v at_o linlithgo_n anno_fw-la 1585._o be_v forbid_v all_o league_n or_o band_n of_o mutual_a defence_n which_o be_v make_v without_o the_o privity_n and_o consent_n of_o the_o king_n under_o the_o pain_n to_o be_v hold_v and_o execute_v as_o mover_n of_o sedition_n and_o unquietness_n etc._n etc._n wherefore_o we_o can_v no_o way_n think_v that_o any_o band_n or_o league_n of_o mutual_a defence_n by_o force_n of_o arm_n be_v there_o permit_v that_o be_v not_o forbid_v see_v first_o the_o word_n of_o the_o act_n be_v so_o general_a for_o in_o it_o be_v discharge_v all_o band_n make_v among_o subject_n of_o any_o degree_n upon_o any_o colour_n what_o soever_o without_o his_o highness_n or_o his_o successor_n privity_n and_o consent_n have_v and_o obtain_v thereunto_o next_o all_o such_o band_n be_v declare_v to_o be_v seditious_a and_o perturbative_a of_o the_o public_a peace_n of_o the_o realm_n or_o which_o be_v all_o one_o be_v appoint_v to_o be_v esteem_v so_o and_o therefore_o we_o can_v not_o see_v how_o any_o band_n of_o that_o kind_n can_v be_v except_v as_o if_o they_o be_v not_o seditious_a 2._o we_o doubt_v not_o but_o the_o late_a covenant_n be_v consider_v according_a to_o the_o main_a intention_n of_o those_o pious_a and_o generous_a gentleman_n baron_n and_o other_o our_o dear_a country_n man_n who_o make_v it_o especial_o our_o reverend_a brethren_n of_o the_o holy_a ministry_n be_v a_o covenant_n make_v with_o god_n and_o proceed_v from_o a_o zealous_a respect_n to_o god_n his_o glory_n and_o to_o the_o preservation_n of_o the_o purity_n of_o the_o gospel_n in_o this_o church_n and_o kingdom_n but_o we_o can_v find_v a_o warrant_n in_o our_o conscience_n to_o grant_v that_o such_o covenant_n in_o so_o far_o as_o they_o import_v mutual_a defence_n against_o all_o person_n whatsoev_a none_o be_v except_v no_o not_o the_o king_n as_o it_o seem_v unto_o we_o by_o the_o word_n of_o your_o covenant_n but_o far_o more_o by_o the_o word_n of_o your_o late_a protestation_n the_o 28_o of_o june_n wherein_o you_o promise_v mutual_a defence_n against_o all_o external_a or_o internal_a invasion_n menace_v in_o his_o majesty_n last_o proclamation_n be_v not_o forbid_v by_o any_o band_n nor_o just_o yet_o can_v be_v forbid_v for_o first_o we_o have_v already_o show_v that_o they_o be_v forbid_v in_o the_o foresay_a act_n of_o parliament_n anno_fw-la 1585._o 2._o no_o warrefare_n and_o consequent_o no_o covenant_n import_v warrefare_n be_v lawful_a without_o just_a authority_n which_o we_o be_v persuade_v be_v only_o in_o the_o supreme_a magistrate_n and_o and_o in_o those_o who_o have_v power_n and_o employment_n from_o he_o to_o take_v arm_n yea_o so_o far_o as_o we_o know_v all_o moderate_a man_n who_o due_o respect_v authority_n will_v say_v that_o it_o be_v so_o in_o all_o kingdom_n and_o monarchy_n proper_o so_o call_v of_o which_o nature_n be_v this_o his_o majesty_n most_o ancient_a kingdom_n and_o that_o it_o be_v altogether_o unlawful_a to_o subject_n in_o such_o kingdom_n to_o take_v arm_n against_o their_o prince_n for_o which_o cause_n that_o famous_a and_o most_o learned_a doctor_n rivetus_n in_o a_o late_a treatise_n call_v jesuita_fw-la vapulans_fw-la speak_v of_o the_o judgement_n of_o buchannan_n and_o other_o who_o teach_v that_o subject_n may_v take_v arm_n against_o their_o prince_n in_o extraordinary_a
case_n and_o extreme_a danger_n of_o the_o religion_n and_o commonwealth_n profess_v first_o that_o he_o and_o all_o other_o protestant_n condemn_v such_o doctrine_n second_o that_o this_o error_n do_v proceed_v from_o a_o mistake_n of_o the_o government_n of_o the_o scotish_n kingdom_n â—s_n if_o it_o be_v not_o true_o &_o proper_o monarchical_a three_o that_o the_o rashness_n of_o those_o wrytter_v be_v to_o be_v ascrybed_n partly_o to_o the_o hard_a and_o perilous_a time_n of_o persecution_n wherein_o they_o live_v and_o partly_o scâ—tâ—râ—m_fw-la praefâ—ruâ—do_fw-la ingenio_fw-la et_fw-la ad_fw-la audendum_fw-la prompto_fw-la thus_o he_o writ_v in_o the_o 13._o chap._n of_o the_o say_a book_n pag._n 274._o and_o 275._o answer_v to_o the_o recrimination_n of_o â—_o jesuit_n who_o have_v affirm_v that_o bâ—câ—aâ—naâ—_n knox_n and_o goodman_n have_v write_v as_o bold_o for_o the_o rebellion_n of_o subject_n against_o prince_n as_o any_o of_o their_o order_n at_o any_o time_n load_v do_v a_o thing_n much_o to_o be_v note_v by_o we_o at_o this_o time_n lest_o we_o any_o more_o give_v that_o advantage_n to_o jesuit_n to_o make_v apology_n for_o their_o rebellious_a doctrine_n and_o practice_n 3._o not_o only_o make_v of_o covenant_n but_o also_o all_o other_o action_n be_v to_o be_v esteem_v and_o judge_v of_o first_o by_o the_o equity_n of_o the_o subject_n and_o matter_n then_o by_o the_o end_n for_o if_o the_o matter_n pactioned_a that_o be_v which_o the_o party_n mutual_o do_v promise_v be_v just_o forbid_v by_o a_o lawful_a authority_n and_o consequent_o be_v unlawful_a in_o itself_o then_o the_o goodness_n of_o the_o end_n or_o project_n can_v not_o make_v the_o paction_n or_o covenant_n to_o be_v good_a or_o lawful_a the_o three_o demand_n if_o it_o be_v allege_v that_o in_o extreme_a and_o most_o dangerous_a case_n such_o act_n of_o parliament_n may_v be_v contraveen_v quaeritur_fw-la whether_o there_o be_v now_o such_o extreme_a case_n see_v we_o have_v his_o majesty_n in_o his_o former_a proclamation_n avow_v protest_a declare_v and_o in_o this_o last_o proclamation_n take_v god_n to_o witness_v that_o he_o never_o intend_v any_o innovation_n of_o religion_n and_o also_o see_v he_o have_v remove_v already_o all_o that_o which_o make_v man_n fear_v novation_n to_o wit_n service_n book_n book_n of_o canon_n and_o the_o allege_v exorbitancy_n of_o the_o new_a high_a commission_n answer_n if_o the_o remove_n of_o the_o service_n book_n book_n of_o canon_n and_o the_o limitation_n of_o the_o vast_a power_n of_o the_o high_a commission_n contain_v so_o much_o superstition_n and_o tyrrannie_n of_o prelate_n be_v a_o benefit_n to_o this_o church_fw-mi and_o kingdom_n we_o ought_v under_o god_n to_o ascrybe_n the_o same_o to_o the_o peaceable_a meetting_n humble_a supplication_n and_o religious_a covenant_v of_o the_o subject_n which_o have_v give_v information_n to_o his_o majesty_n and_o have_v procure_v from_o his_o justice_n and_o goodness_n so_o great_a favour_n as_o be_v thankfullie_o acknowledge_v in_o the_o last_o protestation_n which_o do_v also_o express_v the_o many_o particular_n wherein_o his_o majesty_n late_a proclamation_n be_v not_o satisfactory_a and_o therefore_o the_o lord_n of_o his_o maesties_n privy_a counsel_n upon_o the_o supplication_n and_o complaint_n of_o his_o liedge_n be_v move_v to_o rescind_v the_o act_n of_o the_o approbation_n of_o the_o foresay_a proclamation_n and_o to_o rend_v the_o subscrybed_n missive_n which_o be_v to_o be_v send_v therewith_o to_o his_o majesty_n we_o be_v confident_a that_o the_o declaration_n wherewith_o his_o majesty_n commissioner_n be_v so_o well_o please_v will_v also_o give_v satisfaction_n to_o our_o reverend_a brethren_n and_o that_o they_o will_v not_o think_v it_o convenient_a for_o they_o to_o give_v further_a approbation_n to_o the_o proclamation_n than_o the_o counsel_n have_v do_v although_o all_o of_o we_o aught_o with_o thankfulness_n to_o acknowledge_v his_o majesty_n benignity_n replye_n we_o will_v not_o here_o dispute_v what_o have_v be_v the_o main_a or_o principal_a cause_n move_v his_o sacred_a majesty_n to_o discharge_v the_o service-booke_n and_o other_o thing_n which_o occasion_v the_o present_a perturbation_n of_o our_o church_n nor_o yet_o whither_o or_o not_o his_o majesty_n proclamation_n may_v give_v full_a satisfaction_n to_o all_o the_o fear_n and_o doubt_n of_o his_o subject_n for_o ourselves_o we_o profess_v that_o upon_o his_o majesty_n declaration_n and_o gracious_a promise_n contain_v in_o his_o majesty_n last_o proclamation_n we_o believe_v first_o that_o his_o majesty_n never_o intend_v innovation_n in_o religion_n secondlie_o that_o he_o will_v maintain_v the_o true_a protestant_a religion_n all_o the_o day_n of_o his_o life_n which_o we_o pray_v god_n to_o continue_v long_o three_o that_o all_o act_n make_v in_o favour_n of_o the_o service-booke_n etc._n etc._n be_v discharge_v four_o that_o he_o will_v never_o urge_v the_o receive_n of_o the_o service_n book_n book_n of_o cannon_n etc._n etc._n or_o any_o other_o thing_n of_o that_o nature_n but_o by_o such_o a_o fair_a and_o legal_a way_n as_o shall_v satisfy_v all_o his_o subject_n and_o thence_o we_o do_v collect_v that_o which_o we_o affirm_v before_o to_o wit_n that_o there_o be_v no_o such_o extraordinary_a or_o extreme_a case_n as_o may_v give_v occasion_n to_o subject_n to_o make_v such_o a_o band_n as_o be_v direct_o forbid_v by_o the_o foresay_a act_n of_o parliament_n and_o to_o contraveane_v it_o in_o such_o a_o manner_n as_o may_v seem_v to_o import_v a_o resist_n of_o authority_n by_o force_n of_o arm_n the_o four_o demand_n concern_v that_o interpretation_n of_o the_o negative_a confession_n which_o be_v urge_v upon_o we_o &_o wherein_o the_o article_n of_o pearth_n &_o episcopacy_n be_v declare_v to_o be_v abjure_v as_o well_o as_o all_o the_o point_n of_o popery_n which_o be_v therein_o express_o and_o 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upon_o power_n or_o authority_n which_o they_o have_v to_o give_v out_o a_o judicial_a interpretation_n of_o the_o article_n of_o the_o confession_n and_o to_o enforce_v the_o same_o upon_o other_o whereas_o they_o only_o intend_v to_o make_v know_v their_o own_o meaning_n according_a to_o the_o mind_n of_o our_o reformer_n and_o in_o charity_n to_o propound_v and_o recommend_v the_o same_o to_o other_o who_o may_v be_v make_v willing_a to_o embrace_v it_o although_o it_o be_v true_a also_o that_o very_o great_a number_n of_o minister_n be_v convene_v and_o testify_v their_o consent_n at_o that_o time_n and_o although_o the_o private_a judgement_n of_o those_o who_o be_v call_v laic_n ought_v not_o to_o be_v mis-regarded_n for_o it_o be_v confess_v that_o a_o interpretation_n which_o be_v private_a ratione_fw-la personae_fw-la may_v be_v more_o than_o private_a ratione_fw-la medii_fw-la the_o other_o which_o be_v observe_v will_v answer_v diverse_a of_o the_o follow_a demand_n that_o 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