LETTERS FROM BIRCH. 321 



be as docible to learn the goodness of England, as they are 

 teachable to limp after their ill, he might with facility pre 

 vail in his desire : for they had learned of the English to 

 drink healths, to wear coaches and gay clothes, to take 

 tobacco, and to speak neither Scottish nor English. Many 

 such diseases of the times his majesty was pleased to 

 enumerate, not fit for my pen to remember, and graciously 

 to recognize how much he was beholden to the English 

 nation for their love and conformity to his desires. The 

 king did personally and infallibly sit amongst them of the 

 parliament every day; so that there fell not a word 

 amongst them but his majesty was of council with it. 



The whole assembly, after the wonted manner, was ab 

 stracted into eight bishops, eight lords, eight gentlemen, 

 knights of the shires, and eight lay burgesses for towns. 

 And this epitome of the whole parliament did meet every 

 day in one room to treat and debate of the great affairs of 

 the kingdom. There was exception taken against some 

 of the lower-house, which were returned by the country, 

 being pointed at as men averse in their appetites and 

 humours to the business of the parliament, who were de 

 posed of their attendance by the king s power, and others, 

 better affected, by the king s election, placed in their room. 



The greatest and weightiest articles, agitated in this 

 parliament, were specially touching the government of the 

 kirk and kirkmen, and for the abolishing of hereditary 

 sheriffs to an annual charge; and to enable justices of the 

 peace to have as well the real execution as the title of their 

 places. For now the sheriff doth hold jura regalia in his 

 circuit without check or controlment; and the justices of 

 the peace do want the staff of their authority. For the 

 church and commonwealth, his majesty doth strive to shape 

 the frame of this kingdom to the method and degrees of 

 the government of England, as by reading of the several 

 acts it may appear. The king s desire and travail herein, 

 though he did suffer a momentary opposition, (for his 

 countrymen will speak boldly to him,) hath in part been 

 profitable. For though he hath not fully and complemen- 

 tally prevailed in all things, yet he hath won ground in 

 most things, and hath gained acts of parliament to autho 

 rize particular commissioners, to set down orders for the 

 church and churchmen, and to treat with sheriffs for their 

 offices by way of pecuniary composition. But all these 

 proceedings are to have an inseparable reference to his 

 majesty. If any prove unreasonably and undutifully re- 



VOL. XII. Y 



