=10. Liturgy Tumults.=--The imposition of this book roused the old national jealousy. The people thought that to have an English service book forced upon them would be a mark of subjection; and on the day named by the King for bringing it into use, July 16, 1637, when the _Dean of Edinburgh_ tried to read the prayers from it in _St. Giles' Church_, a riot broke out. Stools and books were thrown at the _Dean_, the _Archbishop_, and the _Bishop of Edinburgh_, who had great difficulty in escaping out of the hands of the mob. And this tumult was but a sign of the common feeling throughout the country. The King was highly incensed and ordered the offenders to be brought to punishment, and the use of the liturgy to be enforced. Numberless petitions against it from all ranks of the people poured in on the _Privy Council_, or were sent up to _London_ to the King, while _Edinburgh_ was thronged with the petitioners from all parts of the country waiting for the answer which they hoped would be favourable. No answer was given to them, but the King issued a proclamation ordering them all to return to their homes, and threatening to remove the courts from Edinburgh to _Linlithgow_ if the disturbance continued, as had been done in the late reign. But this had no effect. The bishops and the other members of the Council were mobbed, and the supplicants joined in a common petition to the King, called the _Great Supplication_. =11. The Tables.=--The Council finding it impossible to treat with a turbulent mob which increased instead of diminishing, persuaded the malcontents to choose representatives to act in their names, four from each class, _nobles_, _lesser barons_, _clergy_, and _burgesses_. The rest were to return peaceably to their several homes. But this committee, known as _The_ _Tables_, gave the Council more trouble than the unruly mob had done, for they made their way into the Council chamber, insisted on debating there, and demanded that the bishops should be turned out. =12. Renewal of the Covenant, 1638.=--Still the King would not give in, and he met a less submissive protest on the part of his subjects by another threatening proclamation. On this the _Tables_ renewed the _Covenant_, with a clause added to it aimed at the bishops. At the last renewal of the _Covenant_, only notable persons had put their names to it, but this time it was signed by every one throughout the land, rich and poor alike. There was the greatest excitement and enthusiasm about it all over the country, and from this time the popular party became known as the _Covenanters_.