Always in the purſuit of his deſign, he followed this method; in the firſt place he reſolved to deſtroy general aſſemblies: knowing well that ſo long as aſſemblies might conveen in freedom, biſhops could never get their deſigned anthority in Scotland,and the diſſolution of aſſemblies he brought about in this manner.
The general aſſembly at Holy Rood Houſe in the year 1602, with the king's conſent, indict their next meeting to be kept at Aberdeen, the laſt Tueſday of July, in the year 1604, and before that day came, the king by his commiſſioner the laird of Laureſton, and Mr. Patrick Galloway moderator of the laſt general aſſembly, in a letter directed to the ſeveral Preſbyteries, continued the meeting till the firſt Tueſday of July 1605, at the ſame place; loſt of all in June 1605, the expected meeting to have been kept in July following,is by a new letter from the king's commiſſioner, and the commiſſioners of the general aſſembly, abſolutely diſcharged, and prohibited, but without naming any day or place, for any other aſſembly; and ſo the ſeries of our aſſemblies expired, never to rivive again in due form, till the covenant was renewed in the year 1638. However, many of the godly miniſters of Scotland, knowing well, if once the hedge of the government was broken, the corruption of the doctrine would ſoon follow, reſolved not to quit their aſſemblies ſo And therefore a number of them conveened at Aberdeen, upon the laſt Tueſday of July 1605, being the laſt day that was diſtinctly appointed by authority; and when they had met did no more but coſtitute themſelves: and diſſolve, and that was all. Amongſt thoſe was Mr Welch, who tho' he had not been preſent upon that preciſe day, yet, becauſe he came to the place and approved what his brethren had done, he was accuſed as guilty of the treaſonable fact committed by his brethrenr. So dangerous a point; was the name of a general aſſembly in king James's jealous judgment.
Within a month after this meeting, many of the (illegible text) men were incarcerate, ſome in one priſon, ſome in (illegible text) Mr. Welch was firſt ſent to Edinburgh tolbooth (illegible text) Blackneſs: and ſo from priſon to priſon, till he (illegible text) vaniſhed to France, never to ſee Scotland again.
