Page:Brief historical relation of the life of Mr. John Livingston Minister of the Gospel.pdf/50

( 50 ) we ſtaid for ſeveral days, till we were again called aboard the king’s ſhip, and conſultation had what to do in reference to the new inſtructions. If it had not been that Sir John Smith, who uſed not before in his vote to differ from Lothian, and Libberton, had given his vote for applications, there had none been made before we had come to Scotland; but he and Brody, and Mr. Jeffrey, being for applications, 'twas carried by one vote; and ſo papers were prepared and given to the king, who by his next papers deſired to know whether the commiſſioners would ſtand to their firſt agreement, and give him aſſurance of honour, ſafety and freedom in Scotland, as they had done before. When much debate to and again had been uſed for many days, and at laſt papers had been prepared by commiſſioners both of State and Church for exoneration, and in ſhort giving up the treaty, and when there was no appearance of ſatisfaction, but rather of the contrary, all of a ſudden, on tire Friday before we came aſhore in Scotland, Libberton comes from the king, and tells, that the king was ready to ſwear and ſubſcribe the covenant. This was ſuſpicious like to ſome of us, efpecially ſeeing ſome other things which ſhould have been granted before that, were not then agreed to, and that the parliament in theſe laſt inſtructions, had not deſired the king’s ſubſcribing and ſwearing the covenant, but an obligation to do it. But theſe other things were afterwards granted that day. And becauſe ere we came out of Scotland, it was deſired, that if the king could be moved to ſwear the covenant in Holland, it ſhould be ſo done, the commiſſioners reſolved that they would accept of his ſwearing and ſubſcription. It was laid on me to preach the next Sabbath when he ſhould ſwear it, and to read the national covenant and ſolemn league, and take his oath; the which day alſo we came to an anchor at the mouth of the Spey. I would gladly have put it off till we had been in Scotland, or that ſome of the other two miniſters ſhould preach, but all the reſt preſſed moſt earneſtly, urging what a great ſcandal it would be; and how far honeſt men would be diſſatisfied, if the king’s offer of ſwearing the covenant ſhould be rejected. According