Item, if his Maiestie (as God forbid) shall dislyke of quhat wee conceaue to be most conducing to his Maiesties seruice and peace of the kingdome, you are to vrge by all the arguments you can, that his Maiestie doe not determine vpone aney other coursse, wntill some at least of his counsaile from this be hard to giue the ressons of ther opinions; and in this caisse you are lykwayes to represent to his Maiesties consideratione, if it shall not be fitting and necessar to call for his informers, togider with some of his counsaile, that in his auen presence he may haue the reasons of both informations fully delatted. Item, you shall show to his Maiestie, that his counsaile, hauing takin to ther consideratione quhat furder was to be done, for compessing and settling the present combustion within the kingdome, and dissipatinge of the conuocations and gatheringes within the samen, seing that proclamations are alredey made and published, discharging all suche conuocations and wnlawfull meittinges, the (L’s) after debaitting, findes they can doe no furder then is alredey done heirin, wntill his Maiesties pleasur be returned to thir our humble remonstrances. * * * * * 1638.—March 5. 29. _Letter from Traquair and Roxburgh to the King._[53] MOST SACRED SOVERAIGN, Although the miserable Estate of this poor Kingdome will be sufficiently understood by Your Majesty from this Gentleman, Sir John Hamilton’s Relation, yet we conceive our selves in a special manner bound and obliged to represent what we conceive does so nearly concern Your Majesties Honour and Service; and therefore give us leave truly and faithfully to tell Your Majesty, that since the last Proclamation, the fear of Innovation of Religion is so apprehended by all sorts of Subjects from all corners of this Kingdom, that there is nothing to be seen here but a general Combustion, and all men strengthening themselves by subscribing of Bonds, and by all other means for resisting of that which they seem so much to fear. This is come to such a height, and daily like to increase more and more, that we see not a probability of Force or Power within this Kingdom to repress this Fury, except Your Majesty may be graciously pleased, by some Act of Your Own, to secure them of that which they seem so much to apprehend, by the inbringing of the Books of Common-Prayer and Canons. The way which the Subjects have taken and daily go about in the prosecution of their business is inexcusable, and no ways agreeable to the duty of good Subjects, but Your Majesty is wisely to consider what is the best and safest course for Your Own Honour and Peace of Your Government; and since Religion is pretended to be the cause of all, if it shall not be a safe course to free them at this time of Fears, by which means the wiser sort will be satisfied, and so Your Majesty enabled with less pain or trouble to overtake the Insolencies of any, who shall be found to have kicked against Authority.