the desire and under the auspices of King Charles I., as a vindication
of the policy which he had pursued with reference to the affairs of
Scotland in the previous and preceding years, and being published by
Royal authority, may be considered as the King’s own statement of his
case in these unhappy differences with his subjects. It is tituled—“A
Large Declaration concerning the late tumults in Scotland, from their
first originalls; together with a particular deduction of the seditious
practices of the prime leaders of the Covenanters; collected out of
their owne foule acts and writings, by which it doth plainly appeare,
that Religion was onely pretended by these leaders, but nothing lesse
intended by them—BY THE KING. London: Printed by Robert Young, his
Majesties Printer for Scotland, Anno Domini M.D.C.XXXIX.” From this
source many of the following documents are gleaned; and although the
statements and argument founded on these documents are coloured so as
to serve the party whose cause it advocated, a commendable impartiality
is shewn in the publication of the main acts and writs of the adversary.
2dly, The next depository whence we have drawn these documents is a
work of Bishop Burnet’s:—“The Memoires of the Lives and Actions of
James and William Dukes of Hamilton, &c., in which an account is given
of the Rise and Progress of the Civil Wars of Scotland, &c., from the
year 1625 to 1652, together with many Letters, Instructions, and other
papers, written by King Charles I., never before published; all drawn
out of or copied from the originals.” Printed by the Bookseller to the
King. (Charles II.) 1677.
3dly, The only other authority to which it is necessary to refer
particularly is:—“The Historical Works of Sir James Balfour of Denmylue
and Kinnaird, Knight and Baronet, Lord Lyon King at Arms to Charles I.
and Charles II., published from the original MS., in the Library of the
Faculty of Advocates,” (by M. D. Haig, under Librarian,) in 1824. This,
like the others referred to, is a work of high authority, and abounds
with much curious and minute information.
* * * * *
_Petition to the_ KING _from the_ CLERGY _of_ SCOTLAND.
29 May 1633.
Griuances and Petitions concerning the disordered Estaite of the
Reformed Kirke within this Realme of Scotland, presented vpon the 29
of Maij, 1633, by me, Master Thomas Hogge, Minister of the Euangell,
in my auen name, and in name of others of the ministrie lykwayes
greiued, to Sʳ Johne. Hay, Clerck of Register, to be presented by him
to such as ought, according to the order appoynted, to consider them,
that therafter they may be presented to his Maiesty and Estaites,
wich wer to be assembled at this ensewing parliament.
The opportunity of this soleme meitting of your gratious Maiesty, and
the honourable Estaits conweined in this heighe courte of parliament,
and the concience of our deutey to God and the reformed kirk within
this realme of Scotland, quher wee serue by our ministerey, constrains
ws to present, in all humility, to your heighnes and estaites presently
assembled, thosse our just griuances and resonable petitions follouing:
First, Albeit, vote in parliament was not absolutly granted to
ministers, prowydit to prælacies, bot only wpon suche conditions as
his heighnes, of happy memorie, and the general assemblies of the
kirke should aggree vpon, wich is euident by the remitt and prouision
expressed in the acte of parliament holdin at Edinbrughe, in December,
1597; and albeit the maner of ther election and admissione to the
office of commissionarey, and the particular conditions and cautions to
be obserued by ministers votting in parliament, in name of the kirke,
after long disputation wer aggreid vpone by his Maiesty present in
persone, and the generall assembley, and wer apponted by them to be
insert in the bodey of the acte of parliament, wich was to be made
concerning that purpois. Some ministers notwithstanding haue beine, and
are admitted to vote in parliament in name of the kirke, als absolutly
as if the acte of parliament did conteine no suche reference; and as if
his Maiesty, with the gen: assembley, had not aggreid wpone the maner
of ther election or admissione to the office, or vpone aney limitations
quherby the kirk hath susteined grate hurte and preiudice in her
liberties and præulidges, and especially by ther frequent transgressing
the first of the conditions, altho grounded wpone the werey law of
nature and nations;—that nothinge be proponid by them in parliament,
counsell or conuentione in name of the kirke, without expresse warrant
and direction from the kirke, vnder the paine of deposition from
ther office; nather shall they keepe silence nor consent to the said
conuentions to aney thing that may be præiudiciall to the libertie and
weell of the kirk, vnder the said paine.
And the second, that they shall be bound at eurey gen: assembley, to
giue a compte anent the discharging of their commissione, since the
assemblie præceiding, and shall submitt themselues to the censure,
and stand to ther determinatione quhatsoeuer, without appellatione,
and shall seike and obteine ratificatione of ther doinges at the said
assembley, wnder the paine of infamie and excommunicatione.
Therfor, our humble supplication is, that the executione of the actes
of parliament, off materes belonging to the kirke, to wich they haue
wotted in name of [the] kirke, without aney authority or allouance of
the generall assemblies of the kirke, be suspendit till that the kirke
be hard; and that in tyme coming ministers haue no otherwayes vote in
parliament, bot according to the prouisione of the acte of parliament,
and the order of ther entrie to the office of that commissionarey and
limitation forsaid, aggreid one, as said is.
2. Seinge ratifications of actes and constitutions of the kirke,
cannot be construed to be a benefitt or fauor to the kirke, wnlesse
the ratifications passe according to the meining of the kirke, and
the tennor of the saides actes and constitutions, without omission,
addition or alteration of clausses, artickells or wordes of importance;
and that in the ratificatione of the acte of the assembley holdin at
Glasgow in Aᵒ 1610, wich past in parliament haldin at Edinbrughe, 1612,
wnder the name of explanatione of sundrie clausses and artickells, wer
omitted out of the same.
At the subiection of bischopes in all thinges concerning ther lyffe,
conversatione, office and benefice to the censure of the gen: assembley;
The censure of bischopes, in caisse they stay the censure of
excommunicatione;
The continuing of the exercisse of doctrine weeiklie;
The necessity of the testificat, and assistance of the ministrie
of the boundes, for the admission of ministers, and other clauses
and artickells are addit and insert, as the different degrees of
archbischopes and bischopes;
The pouer of giuing colation of benefices granted to bischopes;
The disposing of benifices fallinge in ther handes jure deuoluto;
The appoynting of moderators in diocesian synodes, in caisse of
ther absence, and some wordes of the othe are changed. By all wich
omissions, additions and alterations, the kirk hathe susteined, and
doeth susteine, grate hurte in her jurisdictione and discipline. Our
humble desyre therfor is, that the kirke may be liberat from the
preiudice of thosse omissions, additions and alterations of the acte
foresaid.
3. Notwithstanding the generall assembleyes haue beine holdin from the
tyme of reformation till the zeire 1603, at least once in the zeire or
oftner, _pro re nata_; prouinciall synods tuysse in the zeire; weekly
meittinges for exercisses and presbetries, eurey weeke, for matters
to be treatted in them respectiue, and ther liberties wer ratified
in parliament in Aᵒ 1592, and by that, as a most pouerfull meine,
blissed be God, peace and purity of religion wer manteined: and in
the assembley holdin at Glasgow, 1610, quhen commissioners, votters
in parliament prowydit to prælacies, wer made lyable to the censures
of the generall assembley, it was acknowledged, that the necessity
of the kirke craued that ther should be zeirlie generall assemblies,
and the ministers wer then assured, that liberty wold be granted vpon
ther requyste, quherby they wer induced to condescend so far to the
acte then made as they did; wich acte also beareth in the wercy entrey
thereof, a requyste to his Maiestie, that generall assemblies may be
holdin, in all tymes coming, once in the zeire, or precisely at a
sett and certaine tyme; neuerthelesse the wounted libertie of holding
general assemblies is suppressed; the order of the prouinciall synods
confoundit; presbeteries in a grate pairt disordered and neglected,
quherby diuisions haue entred into the kirke; ministers are become
negligent of their callinges, and scandalous in ther liues; the
godlie are heartily greiued, the weeake are scandalized; erroneous
doctrine is deliured in kirkes and scooles without controlment; the
commissioners votters in parliament lay untrayed and vncensured; and
atheisme and poprie incresse. Our humble desyre is, therfor, that the
actes of parliament made in fauors of the assemblies of the kirke, and
especially the acte of parliament made at Edinbrughe in Junij, 1592, be
rewissed and ratified.
4. Notwithstanding the obseruatione of fæstiuall dayes, priuat
baptisme, priuat communione, Episcopall confirmatione of children,
haue beine reiected by this our reformed kirke, since the begning of
the reformation, and it hath beine declared by acte of parliament, in
the zeire 1567, that such onlie wer to be acknouledged members of this
reformed kirke, as did participat of the sacraments as they wer then
rightly ministred, wich was without kneeling in the acte of receauing
the sacramentall eliments of the supper, or immediat dispensing of the
same to eurey communicant by the minister; and that it was statute
and ordained, in the same parliament, that all Kings should giue ther
othe at ther coronation, to manteine the religion then professed, and
that forme of ministratione of the sacraments wich then was wssed.
Neuerthelesse, pastors and people adhearing to the former professione
and practisse, are nicknamed Puritans, and threttned not only without
aney good varrant, bot besyde the tennor of the acte of Perths
assemblie, wich contineth no stricke iniunction, and contrarey to the
meining of the wotters, and to the proceidings of that assemblie, wher
it was professed that non should be pressed with obedience to the acte.
Therfor, wee humblie intreat, that by ratification of the actes of
parliament made befor that assemblie, and by suche wayes as shall seime
good to your gratious Maiesty, and honourable estaites assembled, your
Maiesties good people, pastors, and professors, may bothe be purged
from suche asspertions, and may be freed from all dangers and feares
wich may occurre by occasione of that acte of Perth.
5. Albeit it be determined by the generall assemblies of this our
reformed kirke quhat othes ministers should take, at the tyme of ther
admissione or ordination, zet ther is a new forme of othe dewised and
wrged by the admitters, or ordainers wpon intrants to the ministrie,
togider with subscriptione to certaine artickells dewysed by them,
without direction or warrant from aney assemblie of the kirke, zea,
or acte of parliament; quherby the entrey to the ministrie is shutte
upon the best qualified, and others lesse able are obtruded vpone the
people, to ther grate greiffe and hazard of ther soulles. Our humble
petition therefor is, that suche othes and subscriptiones, wrged vpone
ministers at ther entrey ore transportation, be discharged.
6. Notwithstanding ther be constitutions of the kirke, and lawes of the
countrie for censuring of ministers befor the ordinarey judicatories
ecclesiasticall, zet contrarie to that order, ministers are suspendit,
silenced and depriued, and that for matters mearlie ecclesiastisall,
before wther judicatories wich are not established by the authoritie
or order of the countrie and kirke. Therefor, our humble petition is,
that ministers deseruing censure, be no wtherwayes censured then the
order of the kirke doeth prescriue, and that such as are otherwayes
displaced, be suffred to serue in the ministrie as off befor.
The presenter attendit in Edinbrughe, to compeire, if neid wer, befor
such as wer to conweene to consider the artickells and petitions wich
wer giuen in to the Clercke Register; but ther no appeirance of anney
such conwentione; the ministers therfor directed the said Mr Thomas
Hogge to present the supplicatione follouing to his Maiesty, wich he
did at Dalkeith castle, wpone the 15 day of Junij; that same day his
Maiesty was [to] make his entrey into the cittey of Edinbrughe. The
petitione was thus:—
This happey occasione, with stronge desyres longe waitted for by
your Maiesties most humble and louing subiects, the pastors and
professors of the reformed religion, within this your Maiesties
kingdome of Scotland. The grate fame wich haue oftin filled our eares
of your Maiesties most pious and princely inclination to religion and
richteousnesse, quhence this kirke and kingdome, from ther singular
intresse in your Maiesties birth and baptisme, haue resone at this
tyme to looke for a comfortable influence; the bodey of this kingdome
ioyning in hearte with ws, and onlie waitting for the least word from
your Maiesties mouthe; the conscience wich we haue, and wich wee
trust is manifest to all men, that wee ar seeking nather riches nor
honor to ourselues, bot that the soume and substance of our desyres
is, to procure the aduancement of the kingdome of Jesus Christe, and
to see your Maᵗⁱᵉˢ flourishing estait in your kingdomes; all thesse
and eache of them moue ws to intreat, in all humility, your gratious
Maiestie to be fauorable to our petitions, wich we haue deliuered to
the Clerck of Register, to be presented to your Maiesty and estaites of
the approaching parliament, that they may be considered and receave a
gratious anssuer.
His Maiesty read this petition at lenth, zet ther was no more hard
of ther griuances, ather among the Lordes of the artickells, or in
opin parliament, (quher nothing cometh in votting bot that wich first
must passe the Lordes of the artickells,) and wsually quhat passes
throughe ther handes, is concludit by the quole estaits in publick.
Not only wer the griuances of the ministers suppressed, bot lykwayes
all former actes concerning the complained offe corruptions In the
kirke wer ratified. Howbeit, it was notoriously knowen, that most
of thesse actes had wroght grate disturbance in this kirke. And now
the actes of this parliament (an I haue formerly showen,) layed the
fundatione of ane irreconcilable schisime, and proued afterwardes the
ruine bothe of King and bischopes.[25]
* * * * *
1636.—October 18.
2. _Letter from the King to Spottiswood, Archbishop of St Andrew’s,
Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and Chancellor in Council and Session._[26]
CHARLES Rˣ,
Right Reuerend Father in God, &c. quher as, since our entrie to the
croune, especially since our laite being in that kingdome, wee haue
diuersse tymes recommendit to the archbischopes and bischopes ther,
the publishing of ane publicke forme of seruice in the worschipe of
God, quhilke wee wold haue vniformally obserued therin, and the same
being now condescendit wpone, that wee doubte not bot all our subiects,
both clergie and others, will receaue the samen with suche reuerence
as aperteinethe; zet thinking it necessarey to make oure pleassure
knowen tuoching the authorisinge the booke therof, we requyre you to
command, by opin proclamatione, all our subiectes, both ecclesiasticall
and ciuill, to conforme themselues in the practisse therof, it being
the onlie forme of worschipe quhilk wee, hauing takin the counsaill of
our cleargie, thinke fitt to be wssed in Gods publicke worschipe ther.
As also, we requyre you to inioyne all archbischopes, bischopes and
wthers, presbiters and churchemen, to take caire the samen be deulie
obserued, and the contraweiners condinglie censured and punished, and
to giue order that eurey paroche procure to themselues, within suche
ane space as you shall be pleassed to appoynt, tuo at the least of the
saides bookes of comon prayer for the wsse of the said paroche, quherin
ze will doe ws most acceptable seruice; and for the quhilk thesse
presents shall be your warrant. Wee bid you fairweell, from our courte
at Newuarke, 18 Octobris, 1636.
* * * * *
1636.—December 20.
3. _Act anent the Seruice Booke._[27]
Apud Edinburgh, 20 Decembris 1636. Sederunt.
Chancellor.
Thesaurer.
Glasgow.
Dumfrees.
Angus.
Binning.
Napier.
Depute Treasʳ.
Clerk-Regʳ.
Advocat.
Justice-Clerk.
Forsamekle as the King’s Maiestie euer since his entrie to the
imperiall goverment of this his ancient Kingdome, especiallie since
his late being their, hes diverse times recommendit to the Archbishops
and Bishops their, the publishing of a publict forme of service in the
worship of God, whiche his Maiestie would haue vniformelie observed
in this kingdome; and the same being now condescended upon, although
his Maiestie doubts not bot all his Maiesties subjects both clergie
and others, will receave the said publict forme of seruice with such
reuerence as appertaineth; butt his Maiestie thinking it necessair to
make his pleasure knowen twiching the authorizing the booke thairof;
Therefore the Lords of his Maiesties Privie Counsell, according to his
Maiesties speciall warrand and direction, ordains letters to be direct,
to command and charge all his Maiesties subjects, both ecclesiasticall
and civill, be open proclamation at the Mercat Croses of the heid
burrowes of this kingdome and other places needfull, to conforme
themselffs to the said publict forme, qˡᵏ is the onlie forme qˡᵏ his
Maiestie, having takin the Counsell of his Cleargie, thinkes fitt to be
used in Gods publict worship heir: Commanding heirby, all Archbishops
and bishops, and others presbyters and churchemen, to take a speciall
care, that the said publict forme of worship be dewlie obserued and
obeyed, and the contraveaners condinglie censured and punished, and
to have a speciall care that euerie Parish betwixt and pasche next,
procure unto thameselffs twa at the least of the saids bookes of Common
Prayer, for the use of the Parish.
Followes his Maiesties Missive for warrant of the Act abouwritten.
CHARLES Rˣ.
Right Reuerend father in God, right trustie and weill belouit Cousins
and Counsellors, right trustie and trustie and belouit Counsellors, We
greit you weill. Whereas since our entrie to the crowne, especiallie
since our late being in that Kingdome, we have diuerse times
recommended to the Archbishops and bishops there, the publishing of a
publict forme of seruice in the worship of God, whiche we would haue
vniformelie obserued therein; and the same being now condescended vpon,
thogh we doubt not bot all our subjects, both clergie and others, will
receaue the same with such reuerence as appertaineth: yitt thinking it
necessarie to make our pleasure knowne, tuiching the authorizing of
the booke thaireof, We require you to command, by opin proclamation,
all our subjects, both ecclesiasticall and cevill, to conforme
thamselffes in the practise thairof, It being the onlie forme which
We, having takin the Counsell of our Clergie, thinke fitt to be used
in God’s publict worship there; as alsua we require you to injoyne all
Archbishops and Bishops, and other Presbyters and churchemen, to take
care, that the same be dewlie obeyed, and the contraueaners condignlie
censured and punished, and to take order that euerie parish procure to
thameselffes, within such a space as yow shall thinke fitt to appoint,
two at least of the saids bookes of Common Prayer for the use of the
Parish; wherein you will doe us most acceptable seruice, and for which
these shall be your warrant. We bid yow farewell, from our Court at New
Mercat, 12 of October 1636.
* * * * *
1637.—March 14.
4. _Act of Council anent the new Psalmes._[28]
Apud Edinburgh 14 Martii 1637.—Sederunt.
Chancellor. Dumfreis. B. Brechin.
Thesaurer. L. Bining. L. Naper.
B. Glasgow. L. Alexander. Clᵏ Regʳ.
Mar. B. Gallaway. Advocat.
Winton. B. Aberdene. Justice.
Seafort. B. Ros. Justice-Clerk.
Forsamekle as the late Psalmes have, by authoritie of the King his
Maiestie, and the clergie of this kingdome, bene altered, revysed,
and approvin, so that now his Maiestie, according to his pleasure,
formerlie signified, for receaving of the said Psalmes, is fully
resolved to have that warke goe on for the good of the church and
memorie of the author; Therefore the Lords of Privie Counsell,
according to his Maiesties expresse will and pleasure signified unto
thame be writt, hes discharged, and, be the tennor of this present
act, discharges all farder impression of the old psalmes, as alsua the
inbringing of the same from England or ellis wyes, to the intent the
new psalmes may be imprinted and generallie receaved and sung in all
the churches of this kingdome. And the said Lords hes recommendit, and
be the tennor heirof recommends to the Archbishop of St Andrewes, Lord
High-Chancellor of this kingdome, to call before him, or before the
Provest and Bailleis of burrowis, the whole printers and stationers
within this kingdome, and all others whome this mater may concerne,
and to intimat unto thame, this present act and ordinance, and to
require thame and everie ane of thame, to conforme thameselffes and
give obedience thereanent, under the paine of confiscation of the whole
bookes which sall be prented or imported agains the tennor of this act,
and ordines letters of publication to be direct thereupon, if neid
beis, in forme as effeirs.
Followes his Majesties Commission for warrant
of the act abouewritten.
CHARLES Rˣ.
Right reuerend father in God, &c. Whereas the late psalmes haue, by
authoritie from us and the Clergie of both Kingdomes beene altered
reuised and approved, We now, according to our pleasure formerlie
signified for receaving thame in the church of that Kingdome, being
fully resolved to cause that work goe on for the churches good and the
authors memorie; It is our expresse will and pleasure, that according
as you sall thinke fitt, you suffer no further impression to be made
of the old psalmes, and that yow give such orders as yow sall find
necessarie and which is in yower power, for printing and receaving of
the new, to be generallie receaved and sung, in all the churches of
this said Kingdome; and to that effect that yow give to our clairgie,
(to whome we have written at length twiching the same) what strenth
and authoritie you sall finde necessarie and can be grantit by yow,
Quherein expecting frome you a readie performance, both by yowr owne
good example and otherwayes, whereby we may finde the effects of your
paines and affection to our forme, in this, whereof we will take as
most acceptable service done unto us, and for whiche, these presents
sall be your warrant. We bid yow farewell, from our Court at Whitehall,
the 3 of Februarie 1637.
* * * * *
1637.—June 13.
5. _Act anent Seruice bookes._[29]