The committees having respectively met at the places and time appointed, proceeded to the choice of chairman, when Dr. Burgess was appointed chairman of the first, Dr. Stanton of the second, and Mr. Gibbon of the third committee.

As it was doubted, whether by the rules, the prolocutor had the liberty of speaking, a resolution was proposed and adopted, "That he should speak, and give his advice when he should think fit."

It may be gratifying to the reader to have some particular description of the room which the Assembly occupied, and of the manner in which the members were arranged in their respective seats. This we shall copy from the accurate Baillie. "At the upper end of the room," says he, "there is a chair set on a frame, a foot from the earth, for the prolocutor, Dr. Twisse. Before it, on the ground, stand two chairs, for the two Mr. assessors, Dr. Burgess, and Dr. White. Before these two chairs, through the length of the room, stands a table, at which sit the two scribes, Mr. Byfield and Mr. Roborough. The house is all well hung, and has a good fire, which is some dainties at London. Foreanent the table, upon the prolocutor's right hand, there are three or four ranks of forms. On the lowest one five do sit. Upon the other, at our backs, the members of Parliament deputed to the Assembly. On the forms foreanent us, on the prolocutor's left hand, going from the upper end of the house to the chimney, and at the other end of the house, and backside of the table till it came to our seats, are four or five stages of forms, whereupon their divines sit as they please; albeit, commonly they keep the same place. From the chimney to the door there are no seats, but a void for a passage. The lords of Parliament use to sit on chairs in that void, about the fire. We meet every day of the week, except Saturday. We sit commonly from nine to two or three in the afternoon. The prolocutor, at the beginning and end, has a short prayer. The man, as the world knows, is very learned in the questions he has studied; and very good,

and beloved of all, and highly esteemed; but merely bookish, and not much as it seems, acquaint with conceived prayer; among the unfittest of all the company for any action; so after the prayer he sits mute. It was the canny conveyance (contrivance?) of those who guide most matters for their own interest, to plant such a man of purposes in the chair. The one assessor, our good friend Dr. Burgess, a very active and sharp man, supplies so far as it is decent, the prolocutor's place: the other, our good friend Mr. Whyte, has kept in of the gout, since our coming. Ordinarily there will be present about three score of their divines. These are divided into three committees; in one whereof, every man is a member. No man is excluded who pleases to come to any of the three. Every committee, as the Parliament gives order in writ to take any purpose to consideration, takes a portion, and in the afternoon meeting prepares matters for the Assembly; sets down their minds in distinct propositions, and backs their propositions with texts of Scripture. After the prayer, Mr. Byfield, the scribe, reads the proposition and Scriptures, whereupon the Assembly debates in a most grave and orderly way. No man is called up to speak but who stands up of his own accord. He speaks so long as he will without interruption. If two or three stand up at once, then the divines confusedly call on his name whom they desire to hear first. On whom the loudest and maniest voices call, he speaks. No man speaks to any but to the prolocutor. They harangue long and very learnedly. They study the question well beforehand, and prepare their speeches; but withal, the men are exceeding prompt, and well spoken. I do marvel at the very accurate and extemporal replies that many of them usually make. When upon every proposition, and on every text of Scripture that is brought to confirm it, every man who will has said his whole mind, and the replies, and duplies, and triplies, are heard, then the most part calls to the question. Byfield, the scribe, rises from the table, and comes to the prolo

cutor's chair, who, from the scribe's book reads the proposition, and says, as many as are in opinion that the question is well stated in the proposition, let them say I (aye,) when aye is heard, he says, as many as think otherwise, say no. If the difference of ayes and noes is clear, as it usually is, then the question is ordered by the scribes, and they go on to debate the first Scripture alleged for proof of the proposition. If the sounds of aye and no be nearly equal, then says the prolocutor, as many as say aye, stand up; while they stand, the scribe and others, number them in their minds. When they are set down, the noes are bidden to stand, and they likewise are numbered. This way is clear enough, and saves a great deal of time which we spend in reading our catalogue. When a question is once ordered, there is then no more of that matter; but if a man will deviate, he is quickly taken up by Mr. assessor, many others confusedly crying,' speak to order. No man contradicts another expressly by name, but most discreetly speaks to the prolocutor; and at most, holds on the general, 'The reverend brother who lately, or who last spoke, on this hand, or that side, above, or below.""

From the preceding minute description of the method of transacting business, the reader will be able to compare the order of this ancient and venerable Assembly with the rules of proceeding adopted in our ecclesiastical bodies.

CHAPTER III.

Delegation from Parliament and the Assembly to Scotland-Solemn League and Covenant-Commissioners chosen to go to the Westminster Assembly-Their Commission-Reception of the Commissioners-They decline sitting as members.

THE English Parliament having it much at heart to secure the co-operation of the Scottish nation, in pro

moting the reformation in the church which they contemplated, and to promote which the Assembly of Divines was convened, resolved to send commissioners to Scotland to negociate such an agreement as they might be able to effect, with a view to the end before mentioned.

The persons selected for this embassy, were, the Earl of Rutland, Sir William Armyn, Sir H. Vane, Mr. Hatcher, and Mr. Darley. And from the Assembly of Divines, Mr. Marshall, and Mr. Nye were chosen to accompany the aforesaid noblemen and gentlemen. These commissioners were the bearers of a letter from the English Parliament, setting forth the deplorable condition of the Kingdom of England, which, they said, was upon the verge of a most desperate precipice; ready to be swallowed up by Satan and his instruments. They also represented the cruelty of their enemies against all who fell into their hands, being armed against them not only as men, but as Christians, as Protestants, and as reformers; and that if they should be given up to their rage, they feared that it would endanger the safety of all Protestant churches. "Under a deeper sense of this danger," say they, "than we can express, we address you in the bowels of Christ, for your most fervent prayers and advice, for the making of our own and the Kingdom's peace with God, and for uniting the Protestant party more firmly, that we all may serve God with one consent, and stand up against antichrist, as one man."

Before the arrival of the English commissioners, the Scots had appointed, "A Convention of Estates," for securing the country against the royal army in the north; and a General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland had also been called, to meet in Edinburgh, on the 2d of August. The English commissioners were sent to both these bodies, by whom they were cordially and respectfully received. One object of their mission was, to induce the General Assembly of Scotland to delegate a certain number of their most

able divines, to join the Assembly at Westminster, and to aid that venerable body in promoting a reformation in the church of England, and also to bring about a uniformity in doctrine and church government, between the two nations. It was therefore proposed as a preliminary to further negociation, that the two nations should enter into a perpetual covenant, for themselves and their posterity; that all things might be done in God's house, according to his will. In pursuance of this proposal, the General Assembly appointed a committee to confer with the English commissioners on the subject of a suitable form of league and covenant, to be mutually and solemnly agreed upon, by both nations. The committee who had this matter in charge, presented the form of A SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT, to the Assembly, on the 17th of August, 1643, where it was read and highly approved by all, except the King's commissioner. This important document, which makes so great a figure in the history of those times, is said to have been composed by that remarkable man, ALEXANDER HENDERSON, of whose character and conduct, we shall have much to say, in the sequel of this history.

This document having received the unanimous approbation of the members of the General Assembly, was immediately transmitted to the "Convention of Estates," and received also the sanction of that body, in the same day. And as a most ardent desire to consummate this union, was felt in Scotland, the very next morning the solemn League and Covenant was despatched to the English Parliament, by a special messenger, that it might, without delay, be solemnly confirmed and sworn by both nations, as the surest and strictest band of obligation, to make them stand or fall together, in the cause of religion and liberty.

As this instrument had a mighty influence on the civil and ecclesiastical affairs of those two kingdoms, it is proper to insert it entire, in this place.