3. That everie Church Session send one of the most qualified Elders unto the Presbyterie the day of chusing Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie: That by common consent of the Ministers and those Elders present in the Presbyterie, there may bee chosen both the Commissioners for the Ministers, and also some well affected and qualified Nobleman, or speciall Gentleman, being an Elder of some particular Church Session within that Presbyterie, in name of the Barons: For this is the constitution of the Presbyteries, (otherwise called Elderships) appointed by the Church in the books of discipline, Acts of the Generall Assemblie, practised for many yeares after the reformation, and ratified in the Parliament, the twelfth of King James the 6. and never since altered nor rescinded; neither can be with reason altered, seeing that same is the constitution of the supreme and Generall Assemblies, and of the inferiour and Church Sessions, as is at more length cleared by some reasons.
4. That such as are erroneous in doctrine, or scandalous in life, be presently processed, that they be not chosen Commissioners; and if they shall happen to be chosen by the greater part, that all the best affected, both Ministers and Elders, protest and come to the Assemblie to testifie the same.
5. To send to everie Presbyterie a copie of the printed reasons for an Assemblie.
6. That Moderators by vertue of their office bee not Commissioners to the Assemblie, except they be chosen.
7. That the Presbyteries in one of the ordinarie meetings, appoint to conveene solemnely after the twentieth of September, either upon the 21. 22. 23. 24. or 25. for chusing of their Commissioners to the Assemblie, and for to send them hither to Edinburgh before the first of October, or so soone as they can, that with common consent, they may receive the Kings last answer, and advise upon the next lawfull remedies, in their extreme necessities of Church and State.
That in the Fast to be observed on the sixteenth day of September, the second day preceding their election, they may crave God’s direction therein.
66. _Letter from the King to Hamilton._[91]
If I should be too long silent, I seem to contradict that Rule which myself prescribed; therefore, though for the present I can say nothing of the main business, yet this must go if it were but to acknowledged the receipt of your two—viz., of the 12ᵗʰ of September from Ferribridge, and of the 17ᵗʰ of the same from Holyrood-house. So referring you to the Comptroller for what concerns the Ordnance that is to be transported to Hull, I rest