professed in this Our Kingdome, And that all Our good people may be fully and clearly satisfied of the realitie of Our intentions towards the maintenance of the truth, and integrity of the said Religion: Wee have thought fit and expedient to enjoyn and authorize, like as We by these presents do require and command all the Lords of Our privie Councell, Senatours of the Colledge of Justice, Judges, and Magistrates to burgh and land, and all Our other Subjects whatsoever, to subscribe and renew the Confession of Faith, subscribed at first by Our dear Father and his houshold, in the yeare of God, 1580. Thereafter by persons of all ranks, in the year 1581. by ordinance of the Lords of secret Councell, and acts of the generall Assembly. Subscribed again by all sorts of persons in the year, 1590. by a new ordinance of Councell at the desire of the generall Assembly, with their generall band of maintenance of the true Religion, and the Kings person. And for that effect we do require the Lords of Councell to take such course, anent the foresaid confession and generall band, that it may be subscribed and renewed throughout the whole kingdome, with all possible diligence. And because we will not leave in Our Subjects mindes the least scruple or doubt of our royall intentions and reall resolutions, Wee have given warrant to Our Commissioner to indict a free generall Assembly to be holden at Glasgow the twentie one day of November, in this present year, 1638. And thereafter a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the fifteenth day of May, Anno 1639. for setting a perfect peace in the Church, and Common-weale of this Kingdome. And because it is likely that the disorders and distractions which have happened of late, have been occasioned through the conceived fears of innovation of religion and laws, and not out of any disloyalty or disaffection to Soveraignty: We are graciously pleased absolutely to forget what is past, and freely to forgive all by-gones to all such as shall acquiesce to this Our gracious pleasure, and carry themselves peaceably as loyall and dutifull Subjects, and shall ratifie and approve the same in Our next ensuing Parliament. And that this Assembly may have the better successe, and more happy conclusion, Our will is that there be a solemne fast proclaimed and kept by all Our good Subjects of this kingdome, a fourteen daies before the beginning of the said Assembly: the causes thereof to be a begging a blessing from God upon that Assembly, and a peaceable end to the distractions of this church and kingdome, with the aversion of Gods heavie judgement from both. And our pleasure is that this fast be kept in the most solemne manner as hath been in this Church at any time heretofore upon the most extraordinary occasion.