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Questions sent by the noblemen to the commissioners of the general assembly and answer thereto
20 October 1641
The question following was sent from the noblemen sitting in parliament to the commissioners of the general assembly:
It is queried if the passing from opposing and endeavouring to bring to exact trial all such as either by force, practice, counsel, plots, conspiracies or otherwise have done or shall do anything in prejudice of the purity of religion, the laws, liberties and peace of the kingdom may be compatible with our oath, if we shall think in our conscience that passing from may conduce to the glory of God, the good and peace of the church and state of this kingdom.
Answer: Although we have no commission to answer questions of this kind, yet before we can give our private opinion concerning the question pretended, it is our humble desire that your lords, comparing your resolutions at the time of the taking of the oath with your present thoughts, would declare whether your lords be clear in your own consciences that the passing from opposing and endeavouring to bring to exact trial all such as are designed in the oath does conduce to the glory of God, the good and peace of the kirk and state of this kingdom. And moreover that your lords would be pleased to make known to us for our better information the reasons moving your honours hereto.
The question following was likewise sent with the other above-written from [James Stewart], duke of Lennox, but the commissioners refused to give answer thereto or to meddle therewith.
It is queried if any member of the parliament knows anything against any man who is not cited; whether the last words of the oath to bring to exact trial etc. does oblige him to produce and reveal his knowledge be it more or less.