AN ACCOUNT of the late VIOLENCE committed by some Soldiers upon the General Assembly OF THE KIRKE OF SCOTLAND.  
Printed in the Year, 1653.   

A LETTER.  
THe last Wednesday being the twentieth of July 1653. was the saddest day that ever I saw on Earth, and I thought not that any that calls themselves Reformed Christians and Covenanters, would have Enterprised such an Act. It was the day of the meeting of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, at which Mr David Dickson did Expound in the Gal. 2. and taught on 2 Cor. ch. 13. vers. 11. Mr Robert Douglas taught afternoon on 1 Cor. 12.25, 26, 27. both of them very holily, prudently and honestly, for healing our Rents. After these Sermons about four of the Clock, the General Assembly met in the usual place; and immediately after prayers conceived by Mr Dickson the last Moderator, there came in one Lieutenant Colonel Cotterel, and Captain Cliftown Captain of the Castle of Edinburgh, and another Captain with them, whose name I know not. The Lieutenant Colonel standing upon a bench, said with a loud voice, gentlemans, I am commanded to ask you by what Authority you sit here: If you have none from the Parliament, Commander in Chief, or Judges, you are to go with me. Now at this time he had some Musketeers at the door of the House within the Church, and some Horse and Foot about the Church: Mr Dickson desired all that were in the house and not Members of the Meeting, to remove, that they might give a discreet Answer to the Gentleman that spoke. After all removed, Mr Dickson said, We sit here by the Authority of Jesus Christ, and by the Law of this Land, Whereby we are Authorized to keep General Assemblies from year to year, according to the several Acts of Parliament, and every Assembly meets by the Appointment of the Former. The Lieutenant Colonel required them to arise and go with him presently, or else he would make them rise on other terms. Mr Dickson desired time to call the Rolls to constitute the Assembly, and appoint the next Diet. By this time some Musketeers with fired matches entered the House; whereupon Mr Dickson prayed, and in time of Prayer the Commanders aforesaid kept on their Hats, and one of them spoke all the time; the Prayer was short: Mr Dickson protested that this violent raising of the Assembly should not hinder the next meeting to be at such a time and place as he should think meet to appoint at a fitting opportunity; whereupon they were forced to rise, and as they went out at doors were guarded about with Foot and Horse, the Officers going before: They went up the West Bow, and down the Bow to the West-Gate, and from thence to Brunsfield-Linkes, and there they took up all their Names, and gave Orders to them to go to their own homes at the nearest; and not return to the Town: But when some told him that their way was through the City, and all of them had something to do there: He commanded them that returned to the City, to give up their own names and the names of their Lodgings to the Captain of the Guard that night at seven of the Clock, and to departed the City to morrow by eight a Clock in the morning at their peril; and that no three of them should meet together; Whereupon M. Dickson again protested to the purpose aforesaid: It would have grieved any Christian soul to see the Members of that Grave Assembly so disgracefully carried through a great part of the City and Suburbs. Especially Reverend M. Dickson late Moderator, and to have heard the Groans and Sighs that were among the People for the violence done to the Highest Court of Christ in Scotland; Yet in this time and all the next day the Remonstrators or Protesters against the decliners of the Assembly sat in the West-Kirk without any to raise them, but on Thursday at night a Proclamation was made at the Market-Crosse, that all Lords, Lairds, and Ministers should departed the City by too morrow at eight a Clock, except such as had to do in the Laws, or before the Judges, or could give other necessary cause of their stay: By whose instigation this was done God will bring to light in his good time, but the Order is under Colonel Lilburn's hand: We expected better things at their hands who swore sincerely, really, and constantly through the grace of God in their several places and callings, the preservation of the Reformed Religion in the Church of Scotland, in Doctrine, Worship, Discipline, and Government, then to overturn our Discipline and Government. As for myself I found the word of 2 Chron. 20.6. made very lively and sensible to me; and I got great liberty to pray and believe accordingly.  
God is Just, and will not forget a broken Covenant, He will be a speedy witness against Covenant-breakers, but in his own time, which is best, and till than here is the Patience and Faith of the Saints.  
FINIS.