Series 5 > Religious Controversy in Scotland 1625-1639

38
RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY IN SCOTLAND
made more use of the latter words of the psalme/let the king heare us when wee
call’.‘These words’, saith he,‘makes not a full sentence, therfore they must be
made up by that word,“the king”, and so wee have a full sentence,“Lord save the
king”.’This suplement (I thinke) was onelie his owne inventione, for there is a
colon at ‘Lord save’, and the interpreters that I have read make it the conclusion
of the prayer of the people, both for their king and themselves. ‘If any people in
the world have cause to pray (Lord save their king), then (saith he) wee have
most cause, for if our king had not his succession to the crowne lynealy by 108
of one blood, but were to be chosen, then if wee had him to choose, a fitter or
more worthy then King Charles wee could not hitt on for all the conditions
requirable in elective kings are in the highest degree in his majestie.’Thus went
he into such exhorbitant praises of his majestic in his face that he was forced to
blush and hing downe his heade. He promised [Qbut alas he hath proven a false
prophet) great peace and prosperitie under his raigne, and promised that Edin¬
burgh should have no more use for that old shtgan ensigne of the Blew Blankett.74
With such [15] like tales spent he the houre to the weareinge of all honnest and
descreit hearers.
The magistrates of the citie invited his majestic and the English that were
come with them to a sumptuous dinner which they had prepared for him, and
had built a large house in the Parliment Close to receave them for that dinner.
And so was that Sabbath spent. His coronation was the morrow after, with all
solemnities requisite, and foure or five bishopps was appointed to exerce the
ceremonies at the coronation.
The 28 day of June the king and states of parliment rode in a more solemne
and frequent manner then our parliments were wont to have. There might have
beine seine the pride of the prelates fulie.The two archbishopps rode bewixt the
earles and the two marqueisses, the rest of the bishopps betwixt the carles and
lords, and St Androes with his velvet hat was verie pope-hke that day.
The parliment began verie presently, and two acts which useth to begin our
parliments annent the libbertie of holie kirke and ratifieinge of former acts for
the effect was unanimoushe agreede to. Bot at the conceavinge of the third act
there was great discontent, for in that act was together the acknowledginge of
the king’s royall prerogative over all persons in all causes within his dominions,
includit power to his majestic and successors by vertue of his royall prerogative
to appointe habitt for kirke men and judges, what shall seime best to his majestic
and his successors, kings of this realme. And the act was so conceaved that either
the states must dissasent to his majestie’s royall prerogatives or else consent that
74 An exhibit in the Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, shows a sample of the Blue
Blanket, identified as the emblem of the Edinburgh trades. It has alternating blue and white bands, and
the particular item has also a small Saltire in one corner.