_Act concerning the publike satisfaction of Married persons, for
Fornication committed before Marriage._
The Generall Assembly understanding that in many places the publike
scandals of Fornication committed before Marriage, are not taken notice of
and removed by publike confession according to the order of this Kirk;
Therefore for remedie thereof do Ordain, That all Married persons under
publike scandall of Fornication, committed before their Marriage (although
the scandall thereof hath not appeared before the Marriage) shall satisfie
publikely for that sin committed before their Marriage, their being in the
estate of Marriage notwithstanding, And that in the same manner as they
should have done if they were not Maried.
_13. Junii 1646. Antemeridiem._ Sess. 10.
_Ordinance for Excommunication of the Earle of Seafort._
The Generall Assembly having taken to their serious consideration, that
perfidious Band made and contrived lately in the North, under the name of
_An humble Remonstrance_, against our Nationall Covenant, and the League
and Covenant of the three Kingdoms; Which tendeth to the making of
division and fomenting of Jealousie within this and between both Kingdoms,
to the prolonging of these unnaturall Warrs, to the impeding of the
intended Uniformity in Religion, and to the subversion of all the happie
ends of our covenants: And finding that _George_ Earle of Seafort hes not
only most perfidiously himself subscribed the said wicked Band, contrary
to his solemne Oaths in the Covenants aforesaid, and most arrogantly,
owned the same under his owne hand writing in his letters to the Committee
of Estates, and to the Commissioners of the preceding Assemblie; But also
hes seduced and threatned others to subscribe that divisive Band, and to
joyne with him in prosecution of his treacherous and wicked designes,
therein masked with the pretences of Religion and libertie; boasting also
the pursuance of that his Remonstrance against all deadly the opposers
thereof, whether King or Parliament. And having also considered another
wicked and treacherous Band of Union which the said Earle formerly entred
into with that excommunicate Rebell _James Grahame_, after the sentence of
forfalture and the dreadfull sentence of excommunication were pronounced
against him, Oblieging himself therein under solomne Oaths to joyne with
that forfaulted Rebell against this Kirk and Kingdome, and to oppose all
their publike resolutions for pursuance of the happie ends of our said
Covenants. All which, with his vile reproachfull aspersions and most false
calumnies against this Kirk and State, and their publike and lawfull
endeavours and resolutions, with his other wicked and perfidious practises
at length discovered in the Proclamation of the Committee of Estates, and
the Declaration of the Commission of the Assembly against the said
perfidious Band and Remonstrance, being gravely pondered and considered;
Together with his base treachery to the Estates, being intrusted by them
with ample Comission, and encouraged and enabled for discharging thereof,
with Mony Ammunition and Arms in a good measure; Notwithstanding whereof
contrary to that great trust reposed in him. It is notour that not only he
did not joyne with the Forces raised for the defence of this Kingdome, But
rather on the contrary, actually joining himself and his Forces with that
excommunicate Rebel _James Grahame_, and these unnatural bloody Rebels his
followers, did beleager Invernesse, a Towne Garrisoned by the Estates for
the Defence of that part of the Country. And the Assembly, having also
found that fair means have been used for reclaiming of the said Earle from
that wicked and perfidious course, by publike Declarations and
Proclamations, and particular Letters sent to himself from those that had
power in that behalf, And that notwithstanding thereof and of Summonds
direct against him to answer to the premisses, often called, he doth not
appear, but still remains obstinate in his wicked courses. And after
mature deliberation having found his frequent fearful and grosse
perjuries, his perfidious and wicked conspiracies by Band and Oath, with
the publike Enemies of this Kirk and Kingdom, and his other treacherous
and wicked practises contemptuously and pertinaciously persisted into, To
be heinous offences against God, and high contempt of all Ecclesiastical
and Civil authority. Therefore the Assembly moved with the Zeal of God, do
without a contrary voice Decerne and Ordain the said _George_ Earle of
Seafort to be summarly excommunicate, and declared to be one whom Christ
commandeth to be holden by all and every one of the Faithful as an Ethnik
and Publicane, and appoints the sentence of excommunication to be
pronounced by Matter _Robert Blair_ Moderator in the east Kirk of this
Citie, upon the next Lords day, being the 14 of this Moneth; And that
thereafter publike intimation be made thereof upon a Sabbath day before
noone in all the Kirks of this Kingdom so soon as advertisement shall come
unto them.
_Enormities and Corruptions observed to be in the Ministery, with the
Remedies thereof._