Page:Brief historical relation of the life of Mr. John Livingston Minister of the Gospel.pdf/45

( 45 ) and ſaid, for the firſt they had an act of parliament for their warrant, altho’ it was replied, that not acts of parliament, but their ſpecial inſtructions were the bounding of their commiſſion, and that ſame act of parliament did not fully warrant what they granted. 5thly, In ſome debates, when they were for granting things which were not in their inſtructions, it was many a time by them alleged, that they had private inſtructions, yet when at laſt ſome deſired a ſight of them, it was confeſſed they had none. Only ſome words had been ſpoken by ſome prime men in private conference. 6thly, In the king’s commiſſions, which by the parliament’s instructions, ſhould have preceeded any invitation, ſome material things were left out, yet they proceeded to cloſe the treaty, and to invite, and ſome debated that the want of theſe things ſhould not hinder the cloſing thereof. Altho’ thereafter when the cloſed treaty was ſent home, the parliament by their ſecond inſtructions, which were no other but the renewing of the firſt, declared that they did not approve the treaty without theſe. 7thly When ſome urged that the parliament of Scotland, would not find themſelves obliged to the treaty, if things were agreed to beſide, or beyond the inſtructions; ’twas replied by ſome of the commiſſioners, that they had heads, and eſtates to loſe, and that the parliament might call them to an account for what they did, but both the parliament and kingdom of Scotland, would be bound to all that they had done in their name. All theſe things I was diſſatisfied with, and in my own blunt way, declared the ſame, as I had occaſion to ſpeak; but had not the ability or hardineſs to debate and argue any of theſe things. There was no great haſte made the firſt three or four weeks of the treaty, but when it came towards the fortieth day, it was much urged by ſome of the commiſſioners, that by any means the treaty ſhould come to agreement, before that day were paſt:, and when it came to the laſt: day that the invitation to the king was drawn up and to be ſubſcribed, they firſt enquired the opinion of us three miniſters, becauſe we could not have a vote among themſelves, who were commiſſioners the State: When my opinion was aſked, "I told that as