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Parliament’s demands. In that ten years that they invaded our land, they defiled it with blood, tolerations, and other abominations, which were faithfully witnessed against by a few of this land. Next, there were so many in State and Church chosen to go to Breda, to transact with and bring home their king, whom many of all ranks were, and continue to this day, lusting after that unhappy race: notwithstanding he had got a dispensation from the Pope to come under our Covenants; and it was known that both he and his father had signed many articles to Popish princes, to carry on Rome's interest; which a gentleman that writes upon Court-affairs at that time, makes abundantly plain to the world. Of the Commissioners sent from Scotland, famous Mr. John Livingstone was one contrary to his inclination; which, as he says in his Memoirs, he saw, and was fully persuaded, that there was nothing in all their transactions but the height of treachery and perfidy, that a little time would discover, and was unwilling to sail the seas with them. But after their king was gone a shipboard, some, out of policy, pressed him to go aboard and take his leave of him; and, as soon as he went aboard, they sent off the boat, and so came home fully persuaded the plague of God was come to Scotland; nevertheless of his dissembling, deceitful, hypocritical, feigned-lipped prayers in his closet, which was heard through the partition-wall, betwixt him and the Commissioners in the ship, praying aloud for the advancement of the covenanted reformation in Scotland and for the perfecting of the work of uniformity betwixt the three nations according to their solemn vows in the Solemn League and Covenant.
2dly, Many also of the godly at home saw clouds gathering, and a terrible black storm coming on. About this time blest Messrs. M'Ward, Cargill, and others, who were of one heart and soul, seeing with one eye, thinking with one mind, and speaking with one breath, met at Glasgow to compare notes, and set a day apart for prayer together, to be more and more confirmed in their duty of giving warning of the sin and danger of the malignant courses driven on in that day by fraud and force, especially calling home their head, Charles II.⟨Mr. M'Ward⟩
