The Generall Assembly of the Kirk giues commissione to their
brethren, Mrs Patrick Galloway, his Hienes’ minister, Peter
Blackburne, and Patrick Simpsone, to give informatione to his
Majestie of the evident danger imminent to the Kirk of God, within
this realme, according to the instruction giuen unto them, and there
withall to present to his Majestie, the humble Articles and Petitions
of the Assemblie proponit for removeing of the saids dangers, and to
insist with all humilitie and dew reverence for his Majestie’s good
answer thereto, to the glory of God, and the comfort of his Kirk,
and to report with all good diligence, his Majestie’s answer to the
Assembly before they dissolve.
The Dangers qwhilks through the impunitie of the excommunicat
Papists, traffiquers with the Spainʒards and wthers enemies of
the Religione and Estate are imminent to the trew Religione
professit within this countrie, his Majestie’s person, crown,
and libertie of this our native countrey.
The samyn dangers, whilk of before by the craftie and pernicious
practices of the Jesuites, and malicious, unnaturall, and treasonable
conspiracies of the Earles of Huntlie, Erroll, and Angus, with their
complices, threatins the subversione of the trew religione and the
professors thereof, his Majestie’s crowne and persone, and of this
their native countrie to the cruell and merciless Spainʒard, and were
at that tyme discovered and apprehended be his Majestie and Estates,
and haill bodie of this realme, so evidentlie that nane can pretend
ignorance--at this tyme are imminent, more urgent and maire to be
feared nor qwhen the danger seemed to be greatest, as may appear by
these reasons following:--
_First_, It is certaine that the Spainʒard qwho, with so great
preparationes in the lxxx. and aught year interprized the conquess
of this isle, remaines as yet firme of that intentione, and waits
only on ane meit occasione to accomplische that his purpose, as
it appeares clearly by his continowing in this intertainment of
intelligence, and trafficting with the forsaids excommunicats, ever
since the dissipation of his navie.
_Secundo_, The manifest rebellions of the forsaids excommunicats
and defections from his Majestie’s obedience, after so evident
appearances of their wrack for their manifest treasonable attempts at
the Bridge of Die, at Falkland, &c. and the proofe of his Majestie’s
obedience and favour toward them in pardoning their forsaids
treasones, declares that their malicious and restless ingynes in the
prosecuting of their unnaturall conspiracies against the religion
and countrie, cannot leave off nor cease so long as they are not
punischit, nor restrainit by justice and execution of justice.
_Thirdlie_, Qwhereas the Kirk, on all occasions, hes insistit to
declair to his Majestie, Counsell and Estates, the dangers evident
for the tyme, and to craue convenient remedies thereunto, yet in
effect nothing hes been obteinit, notwithstanding whatsumever
promises, acts, proclamations, reads, &c. Qwhairthrow they have bein
alwayes put in great securitie, and taks libertie and boldness of
farther practises and attempts.
_Fourthlie_, Notwithstanding it was expressly provydit be act of
Counsell, that nane should presume to traffique nor speak in favours
of the saids excommunicats, under the payne of tynsell of their
offices; yet now they are advancit in greater credite of his Majestie
that are knowne to have been their chiefest favourers, and they ceise
not as yet, contrare to their promises, to procure them all favour,
sicht and immunitie, as it appeares in the effect, qwhatsoever they
pretend.
_Fifthlie_, The erection of the idolatrie of the Masse in diverse
quarters of the land, as, namely, in Mr Walter Lyndsay’s house of
Balgay, in Angus--in the young Laird of Bonnytonne’s house Barnes--in
the Earle of Angus’ houses of Bothwell and Clidesdaill, and in the
places of his residence in Douglasdaill--in the Earle of Huntlie’s
house of Strabogy and Auld Aberdeene--in the Earle of Arroll’s houses
of Logyamont and Slaines,--proves clearly that either they finde
themselves sufficiently assurit of such favour and assistance within
the countrey, as may plainly mentaine their cause be force, or else
that they are persuaded of the aide of strangers, to be in such
readiness as in dew time may serve for their reliefe, before that his
Majestie and professors of religion performe any thing in effect in
the contrair, or wtherwayes they durst never so openly disclose their
idolatrie.
_Sixthlie_, The refuseing the act of abolitione offerit to them
be his Majestie, to the great griefe of his subjects, proveth
sufficiently the samen; for it is very probable and manifest that
they wald never have refused so great ane benefite, except they had
thought themselves fullie assured of ane better, either be favour of
Court and assistance within the countrey, or be concurrance had of
strangers without.
_Seventhlie_, Their refuseall to entir in ward, notwithstanding of
his Majestie’s indignatione, and all that might follow therupon,
proves the same.
_Auchtlie_, The late arrival of this bark at Montross, evidently
shawis that their dangerous practises are presently at the poynt of
executione against the religion and the countrie, and must hastily
bring forth some great inconvenient, except they be preventit and
resisted be ane present remedie.
_Ninthlie_, The open conventions of the foirenamit excommunicat
Earles halden at Brechine and uthers places, since the arryvall of
the said bark, declares that they esteem their courses now to be
so substantiallie led, that they regard not qwhat may be done for
resisting of the same.
_Tenthlie_, The diligence of the saids excommunicats in prepareing
and putting of their haill forces in the north in armes and readiness
upon advertisement, schawes that they have some present enterpryze,
and attends only upon concurrance qwhilk appearandly they are very
meikle animat to look for since the arryvall of the said bark.
_Eleventhlie_, Qwhereas his Majestie and Estates, at the first
discovery of their conspiracies, apprehendit ane very great danger
to trew religione, the King’s Estate and Crowne and libertie of the
countrie; and notwithstanding that the samen cause of danger as yet
remaines haill unremovit, there is no apprehension of any danger,
nor any care to withstand it. It is evident that either there is ane
inclinatione and purpose to cover, extenuat and beir furth the evill
cause, qwherthrow they will not sie, or else the Lord in judgement
hes blinded and hardened the heartes of all Estates, to graape in the
mid-day that qwhilk they cannot sie, qwhilk is the greatest danger
of all, and ane most certaine argument of the wrath of God, and his
heavie judgement hingand over the land, and so meikle the maire to be
fearit because there is no cause of fear to be apprehendit.
Remedies for the samine.
For remedie of the forsaids dangers, the Assembly ordaynes the
Commissioners to deall earnestlie with his Majesty, that he may
apprehend the perrill, and be movit with ane bent affectione, to
proceed against the foirenamit excommunicat Papists, Traitors, as
follows:--
1. That the saids excommunicats be forfaultit without favour; and,
to that effect, that the Parliament appoyntit to be the 27th of this
instant be halden precisely without any kind of delay--the Advocat
sufficientlie instructit in every poynt, that the summonds may be
found relevant, and sufficient probatione provydit.