Calderwood. An article concluded among the laws of the articles.
King. But what fault was there in it ?
Calderwood. It cutteth off our General Assemblies.
King. (After inquiring how long Mr Calderwood had been a minister,) Hear me, Mr David, I have been an older keeper of General Assemblies than you. A General Assembly serveth to preserve doctrine in purity, from error and heresy, the kirk from schism, to make confessions of faith, to put up petitions to the king in parliament. But as for matters of order, rites, and things indifferent in kirk policy, they may be concluded by the king, with advice of bishops, and a choice number of ministers.
Calderwood. Sir, a General Assembly should serve, and our General Assemblies have served these fifty-six years, not only for preserving doctrine from error arid heresy, but also to make canons and constitutions of all rites and orders belonging to the kirk. As for the second point, as by a competent number of ministers may be meant a General Assembly, so also may be meant a fewer number of ministers than may make up a General Assembly.
The king then challenged him for some words in the protestation.
Calderwood. Whatsoever was the phrase of speech, we meant nothing but to protest that we would give passive obedience to his majesty, but could not give active obedience to any unlawful thing which should flow from that article.
King. Active and passive obedience !
Calderwood. That is, we will rather suffer than practise.
King. I will tell thee, man, what is obedience. The centurion, when he said to his servants, to this man, go, and he goeth, to that man, come, and he cometh: that is obedience.
Calderwood. To suffer, Sir, is also obedience, howbeit, not of that same kind. And that obedience, also, was not absolute, but limited, with exception of a countermand from a superior power.
Secretary. Mr David, let alone [cease]; confess your error.
Calderwood. My lord, I cannot see that I have committed any fault.
King. Well, Mr Calderwood, I will let you see that I am gracious and favourable. That meeting shall be condemned before ye be condemned; all that are in the file shall be filed before ye be filed, provided ye will conform.
Calderwood. Sir, I have answered my libel. I ought to be urged no further.
King. It is true, man, ye have answered your libel; but consider I am here; I may demand of you when and what I will.
Calderwood. Surely, Sir, I get great wrong, if I be compelled to answer here in judgment to any more than my libel.
King. Answer, Sir! ye are a refractor: the Bishop of Glasgow, your ordinary, and the Bishop of Caithness, the moderator of your presbytery, testify ye have kept no order; ye have repaired neither to presbyteries nor synods, and in no wise conform.
Calderwood. Sir, I have been confined these eight or nine years; so my conformity or non-conformity, in that point, could not be well known.
King. Good faith, thou art a very knave. See these self-same puritans; they are ever playing with equivocations.
Finally, the King asked, "If ye were relaxed, will ye obey or not?
Calderwood. Sir, I am wronged, in that I am forced to answer questions becide the libel; yet, seeing I must answer, I say, Sir, I shall either obey you, or give a reason wherefore I disobey; and, if I disobey, your Majesty knows I am to lie tinder the danger as I do now.
King. That is, to obey either actively or passively.
