mending this second petition" of the Scots in Ulster," to their favourable consideration.

This petition, like the former one, was "subscribed by very many hands." It was intrusted to Sir Robert Adair of Kinhilt, knt., with whom the reader is already acquainted, as a sufferer, under Strafford, for the presbyterian cause, (17) and to Mr. William Mackenna, of Belfast, merchant; and, with the accompanying papers, was presented to the Assembly on Friday the fourth of August.(18) In this petition, they thus feelingly express their gratitude for the Assembly's former attention to their wants:

"Whereas you were pleased the last year to take notice of our petition, and conceived so favourable an act in our behalf, from our hearts we bless the Lord God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this in your heart, to begin in any sort to beautify the house of the Lord amongst us. Doubtless you have brought upon yourselves the blessing of them who consider the poor; the Lord will certainly deliver you in time of trouble. We trust no distance of place, no length of time, no pressure of affliction, yea nor smiling of prosperity, shall delete out of our thankful memories, the humble acknowledgment of your so motherly care, in drawing out your breasts, yea, your souls to satisfy the hungry. Although we have been beaten with the sword, bitten with famine, our own wickedness correcting us, our back-slidings reproving us, yet we have not so far forgotten the Lord's ancient love, but that our

17 Note 17, chap. v. and chap. vi. page 291.

18 In Lightfoot's Journal of the proceedings of the Westminster Assembly, I find the following entry of the same date with the petition in the text. 66 Friday, August 4, 1643. Before the Assembly sat, a petition was read directed to the parliament, by the poor ministers of Ireland, but first brought in amongst us to desire that we would forward the promoting of it." I have no means of knowing whether this petition was from the presbyterian ministers of Ulster, or from distressed ministers in other parts of the kingdom. I find that on the 18th September following, the parliament made an ordinance for a collection for the clergy of Ireland, (Cox, ii. 136.) probably in consequence of this petition.

hearts were brought to a little reviving in the midst of our bondage, by the ministry of those, who, at your direction, made a short visit amongst us."

After setting forth their destitute condition, and stating that they trusted to the Assembly alone, as their parent church, to supply their spiritual wants, they conclude with this renewed and affecting appeal, that their former ministers might be permitted to settle among them :-"It is therefore our humble and earnest desire, that you would yet again look on our former petition, and your own obligatory act, and at least declare your consent, that a competent number of our own ministers may be loosed to settle here, and break bread to the children that lie fainting at the head of all streets; which, although it may be accounted but a restoring of what we lost and you have found, yet we shall esteem it as the most precious gift that earth can afford. When they are so loosed, if they find not all things concurring to clear God's calling, it will be in their hand to forbear, and you have testified your bounty. But oh! for the Lord's sake, do not kill our dying souls, by denying these our necessary desires. There are about twelve or fourteen waste congregations on this nearest coast; let us have at least a competent number that may erect Christ's throne of discipline, and may help to bring in others, and then shall we sing, that the people who were left of the sword, have found grace in the wilderness."

This petition, with the application from the presbyterians of Derry, and the letter of the lord of Ards, were referred by the Assembly to a committee, to consider what course ought to be pursued. As Ireland was a dependency of England, it became necessary to obtain the sanction of the English parliament for the ecclesiastical changes which had been effected in Ulster, under the preaching of the Scottish ministers. Accordingly, at the suggestion of the committee, the state of the church in the north of Ireland, was recommended to the commissioners from the English parliament who were present at this Assembly. The standing commission of the church were

authorized to provide suitable ministers for the lord viscount Ards, and for the presbyterians of Derry. They were also empowered to send over to Ulster such expectants or probationers, as they might find, upon trial, qualified to discharge the arduous duties of the ministry in so desolate a land.(19)

19 The following extracts from the "Report of Committee appointed to consider of the petitions from the distressed people of Ireland," are necessary to illustrate the statements in the text.-" 7. Further, this committee hath represented to the honourable commissioners from England, that these ministers who are sought for Ireland can hardly be removed from their particular flocks, and are of special steadableness to this kirk; wherefore the said committee hath desired the said honourable commissioners from both houses of parliament to express what certainty of continuance there, our brethren may have; not so much for maintenance, as for liberty of adhering to the doctrine and discipline of this kirk of Scotland, and not to be ejected for unconformity as heretofore they were. Which the said honourable commissioners have determined to make known to the parliament of England, and have promised to advertise the commissioners of this kirk, of their answer, when it shall be sent to them. 8. Moreover, the said petitioners from Ireland have acquainted us that where they dwell, divers prelatical, ignorant and scandalous preachers, (especially such as took and urged the oath against our covenant,) engyre [ingratiate] themselves upon the people, and disturb the present good work in hand. For remedy whereof, they do earnestly desire that the commissioners from England be consulted with, by such as this Assembly shall appoint. 9. The matter anent the lord of Ard's letter for two ministers be recommended both to the commissioners of the General Assembly, and to such as are sent to Ireland, and the presbytery there, with special advice of Mr. James Blair, to be taken thereanent. And the Scottishmen of Derry's petition for a minister, in general it is approven and recommended as the former: But Mr. John Kemp, in special, is not thought fit for them, by special knowledge of divers upon the committee. 12. Messrs. Robert Blair and James Hamilton, who were four months in Ireland, and Messrs. James Blair and John Livingston, for the time they were there, did very painfully and fruitfully labour in their ministry, as is evident to us by the reading and considering the register of the presbytery of the Scottish forces there, so that they have deserved the General Assembly's approbation.

DAVID LINDSAY, Moderator to the Committee."

The following is the minute of Assembly relative to the sending of probationers to Ulster :-" The Assembly considering that there will be necessity to send some expectants to the kingdom of Ireland for satisfaction of the desires of the petitions given to the Assembly from the distressed

At the same time, a reply to the general petition presented by Sir Robert Adair, was drawn up and approved, in which the Assembly still declined to loose any of their ministers from their present charges, with a view to their settlement in Ireland. But they very cheerfully appointed the following ministers to visit Ulster in rotation, and to supply the province with preaching until the next annual meeting of the Assembly:" Master William Cockburne, minister at Kirkmichael, and Master Matthew Mackaill, minister at Carmanoch, for the first three months, beginning upon the eighth of September next. Master George Hutchison, minister at Colmonel, and Master Hugh Henderson, minister at Dailly, for the next three months, beginning the eighth of December. Master William Adair, minister at Ayr, and Master John Weir, minister at Dalserf, for the third three months, beginning the eighth of March, 1644. And Master James Hamilton, minister at Dumfries, and Master John Maclelland, minister at Kirkcudbright, for the last three months, beginning the eighth of June, in the said year 1644; to repair unto the north of Ireland, and there to visit, instruct, comfort and encourage the scattered flocks of Christ." (20)

The General Assembly, whose proceedings in relation to Ireland have now been narrated, is most memorable in the annals, not merely of the church of Scotland, but of the empire at large. For at this meeting, was concluded that civil and religious league between the two kingdoms, which produced so signal a change in the national affairs, as to render this period the most interesting and remarkable in the history of Britain.

people in Ireland; therefore gives power to the commissioners to be appointed by this Assembly for the public affairs of the kirk to sit at Edinburgh to consider of the fittest expectants to go to the said kingdom, to try and examine them; and being fit and qualified for that employment, to give them calling and commission to go unto the said kingdom, to do and perform such things as they shall find necessary and answerable to the desires of the said petitions." MSS. Arch. Ecc. Scot.

20 Acts of General Assembly. Printed 1682. Pp. 160, 1.—190, 1.

In England, Charles had at length come to an open rupture with his parliament; and on the twenty-fifth of August 1642, had erected his standard at Nottingham, and declared his resolution of appealing to arms in defence of his prerogative. The parliament had, in some measure, provided for this emergency, by securing possession of several principal towns and forts in various parts of the kingdom. They placed their troops under the command of the earl of Essex, and resolved to resist, at all hazards, in the field as well as in their House, with their swords as well as their votes, the hostile attempts of the king. In the first campaign, which was terminated by the approach of winter, neither party gained any material advantages over the other. On the renewal of hostilities, however, in the spring of 1643, the royal arms were decidedly triumphant, both in the north and west. The parliament was placed in a very precarious, if not desperate situation; and the civil and religious liberties of the kingdom were apparently at the mercy of a victorious and indignant despot. In this critical emergency, the fraternal assistance of the Scots was anxiously solicited. They were implored to aid the parliament in defence of constitutional freedom against a sovereign, who had already attempted to trample on their own rights, and who only awaited the hour of victory over his English subjects, to avenge upon themselves their late successful opposition to his designs. As a more persuasive inducement, the prospect that the sister kingdom would adopt their ecclesiastical polity was distinctly held out; and they were invited to co-operate in establishing a uniformity of doctrine, government and worship throughout the entire empire.

The ecclesiastical changes which had, in the mean time, occurred in England, had prepared the way for this inviting proposal. The meeting of the long parliament was no less favourable to the vindication of civil liberty, than to the removal of the religious thraldom, under which the nation had been long groaning. The execution of Strafford and the im