Royal coat of arms  
CHARLES' by the grace of God, King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith. To our Lovits Heralds, pursuivants, our sheriffs in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute, greeting.  
Forsameikle as out of the royal and fatherly care which we have had of the good and peace of this our ancient and native kingdom, having taken to our serious consideration all such things as might have given contentment to our good and loyal subjects: and to this end had discharged by our proclamation the service book, book of canons, and high commission, freed and liberate all men from the practising of the five articles, made all our subjects both ecclesiastical and civil liable to the censure of Parliament, general Assembly, or any other judicatory competent, according to the nature and quality of the offence: and for the free entry of ministers, that no other oath be administrate unto them than that which is contained in the act of parliament: had declared all bygone disorders absolutely forgotten and forgiven: and for the more full and clear extirpating all ground and occasion of fears of innovation of religion, we had commanded the confession of faith, and band for maintenance thereof, and of authority in defence of the same, subscribed by our dear Father, and his household, in anno 1580. to be renewed and subscribed again by our subjects here: Like as for settling of a perfect peace in the church and commonwealth of this kingdom, we caused indict a free general assembly to be holden at Glasgow the xxi. of this instant, and thereafter a parliament in May, 1639. By which clement dealing, we looked assuredly to have reduced our subjects to their former quiet behaviour and dutiful carriage, whereto they are bound by the word of God, and laws both national and municipal, to us their native and sovereign prince. And albeit the wished effects did not follow, but by the contrary, by our so gracious procedure they were rather emboldened, not only to continue in their stubborn and unlawful ways, but also daily add to their former procedures acts of neglect, and contempt of authority, as evidently appeared by open opposing of our just and religious pleasure and command, expressed in our last proclamation anent the discharge of the service book, book of canons, high commission, etc. protesting against the same, and striving by many indirect means to withdraw the hearts of our good people, not only from a hearty acknowledgement of our gracious dealing with them, but also from the due obedience to those our just and religious commands, notwithstanding we had been formerly so oft petitioned by themselves for the same. By their daily and hourly guarding and watching about our Castle of Edinburgh, suffering nothing to be imported therein, but at their discretion, And openly stopping and impeding any importation of ammunition, or other necessaries whatsoever to any other of our houses within that kingdom: Denying to us their sovereign Lord that liberty and freedom, which the meanest of them assume to themselves (an act without precedent or example in the Christian world) By making of convocations and council tables of Nobility, Gentry, Burrows and Ministers within the city of Edinburgh, where not regarding the laws of the kingdom, they without warrant of authority convene, assemble, and treat upon matters, as well ecclesiastical as civil, send their injunctions and directions throughout the country to their subordinate tables, and other under ministers appointed by them for that effect. And under colour and pretext of religion exercing an unwarranted and unbounded liberty, require obedience to their illegal and unlawful procedures and directions, to the great and seen prejudice of authority, and lawful monarchical government. And notwithstanding it was evidently manifest by the illegal and unformall course taken in the election of their commissioners for the assembly, whereof some are under the censure of this church, some under the censure of the church of Ireland, and some long since banished for open and avowed teaching against monarchy, others of them suspended, and some admitted to the ministry contrary to the form prescribed by the laws of this kingdom, others of them a long time since denounced rebels, and put to the horn, who by all law and unviolable custom and practic of this kingdom, are, and ever have been incapable, either to pursue, or defend before any judicatory, far less to be judges themselves; some of them confined, and all of them by oath and subscription bound to the overthrow of episcopacy. And by this and other their underhand working, and private informations and persuasions, have given just ground of suspicion of their partiality herein, and so made themselves unfit judges of what concerneth episcopacy. And als it was sufficiently cleared by the peremptory and illegal procedures of the presbyteries, who at their own hand by order of law, and without due form of process, thrust out the moderators lawfully established, and placed others, whom they found most inclinable to their turbulent humours, associate to themselves for the choosing of the said commissioners for the assembly, a laic elder out of each paroch, who being in most places equal, if not more in number then the ministry, made choice both of the ministers, who should be commissioners from the presbyteries, as also of a ruling elder, being directed more therein by the warrants from the foresaid pretended tables, then by their own judgements, as appears by the several private instructions sent from them, far contrary to the laws of the country, and lowable custom of the church: by which doings it is too manifest, that no calm nor peaceable procedure or course could have been expected from this assembly, for settling of the present disorders and distractions. Yet we were pleased herein in some sort to blindfold our own judgement, and overlook the said's disorders, and patiently to attend the meeting of the said assembly, still hoping that when they were met together, by our Commissioner his presence, and assistance of such other well disposed subjects who were to be there, and by their own seeing the real performance of all that was promised by our last proclamation, they should have been induced to return to their due obedience of subjects: But perceiving that their seditious disposition still increases, by their repairing to the said assembly with great bands and troops of men, all boddin in fear of war, with guns and pistolets, contrary to the laws of this kingdom, custom observed in all assemblies, and in high contempt of our last proclamation at Edinburgh the xuj. of this instant: as also by their peremptory refusing of our assessors, authorized by us (although fewer in number then our dearest father was in use to have at diverse assemblies) the power of voting in this assembly, as formerly they have done in other assemblies; and by their partial, unjust and unchristian refusing, and not suffering to be read the reasons and arguments given in by the Bishops, and their adherents to our Commissioner, why the assembly ought not to proceed to the election of a moderator without them, neither yet to the admitting of any of the commissioners of the said's commissioners from presbyteries, before they were heard object against the same, though earnestly required by our Commissioner in our name. And notwithstanding that our Commissioner under his hand, by warrant from us, gave in a sufficient declaration of all that was contained in our late proclamation and declaration, the same bearing likewise our pleasure of the registration of the same in the books of assembly for the full assurance of the true religion to all our good subjects; And yet not resting satisfied therewith, lest the continuance of their meeting together might produce other the like dangerous acts, derogatory to royal authority, we have thought good, for prevening thereof, and for the whole causes and reasons abovementioned, and diverse others importing the true monarchical government of this estate, to dissolve and break up the said assembly. And therefore  
OUR WILL is, and we do discharge and inhibit all and whatsoever pretended commissioners, and other members of the said pretended assembly, of all further meeting and conveening, treating and concluding any thing belonging to the said assembly, under the pain of treason, declaring all and whatsoever that they shall happen to do in any pretended meeting thereafter, to be null, of no strength, force nor effect, with all that may follow thereupon: Prohibiting and discharging all our liege's to give obedience thereto, and declaring them, and every one of them, free and exempt from the same, and of all hazard that may ensue for not obeying thereof. And for this effect we command and charge all the foresaids pretended commissioners, and other members of the said assembly, to depart forth of this city of Glasgow within the space of xxiiii▪ hours after the publication hereof, and to repair home to their own houses, or that they go about their own private affairs in a quiet manner. With special provision always, that the foresaid declaration, given in under our Commissioners hand, with all therein contained, shall notwithstanding hereof stand full, firm and sure to all our good subjects in all time coming, for the full assurance to them of the true religion. And our will is, and we command and charge, that incontinent these our letters seen, ye pass, and make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market cross of Glasgow, and other places needful, wherethrough none pretend ignorance of the same.  
Given under our signet at Glasgow the 29. of November, and of our reign the fourteenth year. 1638. Sic subscribitur 

HAMMILTOUN,  
Traquaire,  
Roxburgh  
Murray,  
Linlithgow,  
Perth,  
Kingorne,  
Tullibardin,  
Hadintoun,  
Galloway,  
Annandaill,  
Lauderdaill,  
Kinnoull,  
Dumfreis,  
Southesk,  
Belheaven,  
Angus,  
Dalyell,  
J. Hay,  
W. Elphinstoun,  
Ja. Carmichael,  
J. Hammiltoun.     

Imprinted at Edinburgh by ROBERT YOUNG, printer to the Kings most excellent MAJESTY. CUM PRIVILEGIO.