good considerations knowne to his Majestie, to remove his Councell
and Session from the Citie of Edinburgh to the Burgh of Dundie: And
whereas it is inconvenient at this time to remove it so farre, his
Majestie is graciously pleased that this next Session shall be holden
at the Burgh of Linlithgow, and the next after the ordinarie vacants
at the Burgh of Dundie: And there to remaine during his Majesties
pleasure: And therefore the said Lords, according to his Majesties
speciall direction, ordaines Maissars or Officers of Armes to passe
and make publication hereof to all his Majesties good subjects by
open Proclamation at all places needfull, whereby they can pretend no
ignorance thereof, but may prepare themselves to attend at Linlithgow
and Dundie accordingly.
Apud Edinburgh, Octob. 17. 1637.
Forasmuch as the Kings Majestie is credibly informed, that there is
a certaine booke intituled, A Dispute against the English Popish
Ceremonies, obtruded upon the Kirke of Scotland, and hath beene sent
abroad and dispersed in this Kingdome, purposely to stirre the hearts
and affections of the subjects from their due obedience and allegence:
And therefore it hath pleased his Majestie to give order and direction
to his Councell, that diligent inquirie and search be made for the
said booke; And for this effect the said Lords ordaines letters to
be directed to make intimation and publication to all his Majesties
subjects, that such of them as have anie of the said bookes, bring in
the same to the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell betwixt the
date of this Proclamation and the __________ day of ______________ And
the said bookes being brought in, that the same be publikely burnt,
certifying all his Majesties subjects if any of those bookes shall
be found or knowne to have beene with any of them after the time
aforesaid, that they shall incurre the like censure and punishment as
the Authour may be found to deserve for any thing contained in that
booke.
* * * * *
1637.—October 18.
19. _Act of Council._[42]
At Haly-rud-house the 18 of Octob. 1637.
Forasmuch as a number of the Lords of his Majesties Privie Councell,
as likewise the Towne Councell of Edinburgh, being this day conveened
in their severall Judicatories for his Majesties speciall affaires
and service, they were most rudely interrupted in the course of their
proceedings, by a tumultuous gathering of the promiscuous and vulgar
multitude, by whom his Majesties Councell and servants in an open way
was shamefully environed: Which being a matter verie disgracefull to
his Majesties Authoritie and lawfull Government, and which in the
consequence thereof may produce dangerous effects, if the like bee
not prevented in the time to come; Therefore the Lords of Secret
Councell, according to the dutie of their place and charge incumbent
unto them, Ordaines a Maissar of Councell to passe to the Mercate
Crosse of Edinburgh, and there by open Proclamation to discharge all
publike gatherings and convocations of his Majesties subjects within
the Citie of Edinburgh, and upon the streets thereof; As likewise all
private meetings tending to faction and tumult: And in his Majesties
name and authoritie, to command and charge all his Majesties lieges
and inhabitants within the said Citie, to containe themselves in peace
and quietnesse; And for that effect to keepe their houses, except when
their lawfull businesse doth otherwise call them, Under all highest
paine and charge that by rigour of law can be inflicted upon the
contraveeners of the premises in manner above expressed.
* * * * *
1637.—October 18.
20. _Petition of the Men, Women, Children, and Servants of Edinburgh to
the Lord Chancellor, against the Service Book._[43]
MY LORD CHANCELLOUR,
Unto your Lordship humbly shewes, we, men, women, and children, and
servants, indwellers within the Burgh of Edinburgh: That whereas we
being urged with this Book of Service, and having considered the same,
We finde many things therein so farre different from that forme of
Gods publike worship universally received and professed within this
Kingdome: And we Burgesses, being at our entrie and admission deeply
sworne for the maintenance thereof, that now makes our hearts to
tremble, and our weak consciences will not suffer us to imbrace and
practise this urged Service: We have this long time past, winked at
some former alterations, being put in hope that no further novations
should follow. But now we being oppressed, with our just feares to see
our selves deprived of that libertie in serving God which ever hath
beene approved by Church and Kingdome: In place whereof we are now like
to be constrained to imbrace another, which hath neither been agitated
nor received either by generall Assemblie or Parliament: In such
extremitie we are most humbly to supplicate your Lordship to consider
our present estate, and that this businesse is a matter of so great
weight and consequence as should not appeare to bee a needlesse noyse
of simple women, but it is the absolute desire of all our hearts for
preservation of true Religion amongst us, which is dearer to us than
either estate or life: And therefore we do humbly crave, that as the
rest of the Kingdome, so we may have a time to advise, and that your
Lordship may find out some way whereby we may be delivered from the
feare of this and all other innovations of this kinde, and have the
happinesse to injoy the true Religion, as it hath beene by the great
mercie of God reformed in this land, and authorised by his Majestie,
who may long and prosperously Reigne over us: And your Lordships answer.
* * * * *
1637.—October 18.
21. _Petition of the Noblemen, Gentrie, Ministers, Burgesses, and
Commons to the Council against the Service Book and Book of Canons._[44]
MY LORDS OF SECRET COUNCELL,
Unto your Lordships humbly shews; We Noblemen, Barons, Ministers,
Burgesses, and Commons; That whereas we were in humble and quiet
manner attending a gracious answer of our former supplications against
the Service Book imposed upon us, and readie to shew the great
inconveniences which upon the introduction thereof must ensue, we
are, without any knowne desert, farre by our expectation, surprised
and charged by publike Proclamation to depart out of the town within
twentie foure houres thereafter, under paine of Rebellion; by which
peremptorie and unusuall charge, out feares of a more severe and strict
course of proceeding are augmented, and course of our supplication
interrupted: wherefore we are constrained, out of the deep griefe
of our hearts, humbly to remonstrate, that whereas the Arch-bishops
and Bishops of this Realme, being intrusted by his Majestie with the
government of the affaires of the Church of Scotland, have drawne
up and set forth, and caused to be drawne up and set forth, and
injoyned upon the subjects two Books; In the one whereof, called
the Book of Common prayer, not onely are sowne the seeds of divers
Superstitions, Idolatrie, and false doctrine, contrarie to the true
Religion established within this Realme by divers Acts of Parliament;
But also the Service Booke of England is abused, especially in the
matter of Communion, by additions, subtractions, interchanging of
words and sentences, falsifying of titles, and misplacing of Collects,
to the disadvantage of Reformation, as the Romish Masse is, in the
more substantiall points, made up therein, as we offer to instruct in
time and place convenient, quite contrarie unto and for reversing the
gracious intention of the blessed Reformers of Religion in England.
In the other book called Canons and Constitutions for the government
of the Church of Scotland, they have ordained, That whosoever shall
affirme that the forme of worship inserted in the Booke of Common
Prayer and administration of the Sacraments, whereof heretofore and
now we most justly complaine, doth containe any thing repugnant to the
Scriptures, or are corrupt, superstitious, or unlawfull in the service
and worship of God, shall be excommunicated, and not be restored but
by the Bishop of the place, or Archbishop of the Province, after his
repentance and publicke revocation of this his wicked errour; Besides
one hundred Canons moe, many of them tending to the reviving and
fostering of abolished superstitions and errours, and to the overthrow
of our Church Discipline established by Acts of Parliament, opening a
doore for what further invention of Religion they please to make, and
stopping the way which Law before did allow unto us for suppressing
of errour and superstition; And ordaining, That where in any of the
Canons there is no penalty expressly set down, the punishment shall
be arbitrary as the Bishop shall think fittest: All which Canons were
never seen nor allowed in any Generall Assembly, but are imposed
contrary to order of law, appointed in this Realm for establishing
Constitutions Ecclesiasticall; unto which two books, the foresaid
Prelates have under trust procured his Majesties Royall hand and
Letters Patents, for pressing the same upon his loyall subjects, and
are the Contrivers and Devisers of the same, as doth clearly appeare
by the Frontispice of the Book of Common Prayer, and have begun to
urge the acceptance of the same, not onely by injunctions given in
Provinciall Assemblies, but also by open Proclamation and charge of
Horning, whereby we are driven in such straites as we must either by
Processe of Excommunication and Horning suffer the ruine of our estates
and fortunes, or else by breach of our Covenant with God, and forsaking
the way of true Religion, fall under the wrath of God, which unto us
is more grievous then death. Wherefore we being perswaded that these
their proceedings are contrary to our gracious Sovereign his pious
intention, who out of his zeale and Princely care of the preservation
of true Religion established in this his ancient Kingdome, hath
ratified the same in his Highnesse Parliament 1633. And so his Majestie
to be highly wronged by the said Prelates, who have so farre abused
their credit with so good a King, as thus to insnare his subjects, rend
our Church, undermine Religion in Doctrine, Sacraments, and Discipline,
move discontent between the King and his subjects, and discord between
subject and subject, contrary to severall Acts of Parliament: We out
of bound duty to God, our King and native Countrey, complain of the
foresaid Prelates, humbly craving, that this matter may be put to
tryall, and these our parties taken order with according to the lawes
of the Realm; And that they be not suffered to sit any more as Judges,
untill the cause be tryed and decided according to Justice. And if this
shall seeme to bee to you a matter of higher importance then you will
condescend unto, before his Majesty bee acquainted therewith, Then wee
humbly supplicate that this our grievance and complaint may be fully
represented to his Majestie, That from the influence of his Gracious
Soveraigntie and Justice these wrongs may bee redressed, and we have
the happinesse to injoy the Religion, as it hath beene reformed in this
Land.
* * * * *
1637.—November 15.
22. _Letter from the King to the Council._[45]
CHARLES Rˣ,
Rᵗ Reuerend Father in God, &c. Quheras ther are maney thinges at this
tyme considerable for our seruice in that kingdome, wich wee cannot
expresse at large be wreat wnto you, wee haue takin the occasion of
our trustie and weill beloued cousin and counseller, the Earle of
Roxbrughe, his repairing thither, that by him wee acquant you with our
mynd, als far as wee haue conceaued fitting, vpone that wiche wee haue
alredey hard from you. And it is oure pleasure, that in all thinges
wich he shall communicat to you from ws, ather by word or wreat,
concerning the present estait of that kingdome, you giue trust to him;
and wee expecte, that in eurey thing wich you, or aney of you, haue
found, ore shall find expedient for the vindicating of our honor, and
quieting of the present disorders within that kingdome, ze will all
giue that free aduice, and ioynt concurrence, wich wee are confident
to receaue from our faithfull counsellers, quherof wee will be werey
sensible, at most acceptable seruice done. Wee bid you fairweell, from
our courte at Whithall, the 15 of Nouember, 1637.
* * * * *
1637.—December 7.
23. _Proclamation at Linlithgow._[46]
Apud Linlithgow septimo Decemb. 1637.
For as much as the Kings Majestie, having seene the Petition presented
to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councell, and by them sent up to
his Majestie concerning the Service Book, determined to have taken the
same into his Royall consideration, and to have given his gracious
answer thereanent with all conveniencie: Like as his Majestie by his
letters to his Councell of the date of the ninth of October last, did
signifie his gracious resolution to the effect aforesaid. But since
that time, his Majestie finding (farre contrarie to his expectation)
that such disorderly, tumultuous and barbarous insolencies have beene
committed within the Citie of Edinburgh upon the eighteenth of October
last, to the great contempt of his Majesties Royall authoritie, by
abusing his Majesties Councellors and Officers of State, with others
bearing charge and authoritie under his Majestie within the said Citie:
His Majestie in a just resentment of that foule indignitie, (wherein
his Majesties Honour did so much suffer) hath beene moved to delay the
signification of his Majesties gracious intention, in giving to his
subjects such satisfactorie answers to their Petitions as in equitie
might have been expected from so just and religious a Prince; But yet
his Majestie being unwilling that his Loyall and faithfull subjects
should be possessed with groundlesse and uncessarie doubts and feares,
His Majestie is pleased out of his goodnesse to declare, like as by
these presents hee declareth, That as he abhorreth all Superstition of
Poperie, so he will be most carefull that nothing be allowed within
his Majesties Dominions, but that which shall tend to the advancement
of the true Religion, as it is presently professed within his most
ancient Kingdome of Scotland: And that nothing is or was intended to be
done therein against the laudable lawes of this his Majesties native
Kingdome. And ordaineth publication to bee made hereof in forme as
aforesaid.
* * * * *
1637.—December 21.
24. _Speech of Lord Lowden to the Privy Council._[47]
After my Lord had, in all humility and submissiones, craued the Lordes
of his Maiesties priuey counsaill, ther audience and patience, in
respecte diuerse counsellors of the best sorte wer ther present, quho
wer not acquanted with the progresse of the bussines; he declared the
trew causse of the compirance of so grate a nomber of the nobility,
gentrey, ministrie, and comons of all sortes ther, thus:—
My Lordes, (sayes he,) the subiecte of our complaint and contrawersie
is religione, and lawes of the kingdome, wpone wiche dependethe bothe
the weillfaire of the churche and comonwealthe, our condition of lyffe,
our libertey and fortoune in this transitorey worlde, and the æternall
happines in the lyffe to come; our deutie to Almightie God, the supreme
King of Kinges, with our alledgeance and deutie to our soueraigne lord
and master, the King’s Maiestie.
The matter of our regrate and griuance is, the alteratione of
religione, in publicke forme of Gods worschipe, the most soleme action
of ws all cretures in earth, wich by the innouvations complained
off, is changed in doctrine, sacramentes and discipline, without and
contrair to seuerall actes of parliament, and actes of nationall
assemblies.
The innouations introduced, are chiffly the seruice booke, the booke
of canons and constitutis, and the heighe commissione; in wich
seruice booke are sowin the seedes of diuersse superstitions and
heresies, that the Roman messe, in maney and substantiall poyntes,
is made wpe therin; quhilke seruice booke and other nouations haue
nather warrant of general assembly, nor of acte of parliament, bot
contrarey to bothe, are introduced be the bischopes, quho haue caused
sett fourthe ane booke of canons, quherin it is ordained, quhosoeuer
shall affirme that the seruice booke containes aney thing erronious,
shall be excommunicat; wich booke is the wsher and forrunner of the
seruice booke printed therafter, quhilk by the bischopes conwayence
was ratiffied by acte of parliament, and confirmed longe befor it was
seine and printed, the bischopes for the tyme making wpe the counsaile,
no nobleman being present ther quho did opposse it; and therafter by
publick proclamatione cam fourth, chargeing all his Maᵗⁱᵉˢ subiects
to conforme therto, as the onlie forme of Godes publicke worschipe to
be wsed within the kingdome. After this the booke was printed, and as
the booke was redey for the presse, letters of horning wer directed
to charge the minister to bay the saides bookes for the wsse of the
paroche, in Julij, wich moued them to giue in a bill of suspentione in
Aguste follouing. The subiects finding themselues in the lyke danger,
wnder one of tuo extremities, one being feared to be declared rebells
and excommunicat one the one hand, ore forsaking the way of trew
religione, one the other hand, contrarir to the sourne couenant with
them, could find out no better meine, be ane legall and submissiue
way, then to supplicat the Lordes of secret counsaile. Albeit thir
innouations, by all thosse quho takes Gods worshipe to harte, doe
wnderstand they wer contryuett to tend to the wtter ouerthrow of the
trew religione, and laufull liberty of the subiectes. Zet to eschew
the imputatione of factious conuocations and tumultous dealling, and
to testifie ther loyalty to the King, they resolued to proceid in the
most orderly way of supplicatting, by electinge one or tuo of the
most grauest ministers in each presbyterey, and one or tuo descreitt
gentlemen of each shyre, to prefer ther complaintes, remonstrances
and griuances to the counsaile, by quhosse mediation the matter might
be represented to the Kinges Maiestie, from quhosse justice, redresse
was humblie craued and expected; and supplications at diuersse dyetts,
giuen in name of the nobility, gentlemen, burrowes, and ministers,
to that effecte, as the petitions themselues, that wich was giuen in
the 23 of September, and that wpone the 18 of October, doeth cleirlie
proport. At quhilke tyme, by warrant, appeirantly procured by the
bischopes from his Maiestie, our supplicationes wer interrupted, and
the counsaile at that tyme discharged to medle with churche bussines,
and the supplicants to be discharged off the toune within 24 houres,
wnder the paine of rebellione, wich feared them to giue in that
supplicatione of the 18 of October, containing ane complaint aganist
the bischopes, as contriuers, manteiners and vrgers of the booke. And
the supplicants taking conweniencey of tyme, of the doune sitting of
the sessione againe in Edinbrughe, the 15 of Nouember, commissioners
wer chosen to attend his Maiesties anssuer, and doe quhat ells might
conduce for furthering of ther lawfull desyres. The Earle of Roxbrughe
being therafter sent from courte, did conweine the counsaile at
Linlithgow, the 7 of September, quher ther was ane declaratione for the
King, by oppin proclamatione at the mercat crosse of Edinbrugh, shouing
that the Kinges Maiestie doethe abhore all superstitions of poprie, and
wiolatione of the laudable lawes of the kingdome; and the supplicants
wer desyred by the Earle of Roxbrughe and Traquair, Thesaurer, not to
appeire at Linlithgow, wnder promisse that ther supplicatione should be
judicially hard in counsaile the nixt weeke therafter, to the wich the
counsaile wes appoynted to sitt at Dalkeithe; wher the commissioners
and diuersse wther noblemen of good sorte, did attend the counsell to
haue beine hard, bot wer postponit till the 21 of December.
After this relatione, he subsumed wpon the proclamatione, that thinges
complined one wer superstitious, full of poprie and superstitione,
and wiolatione of the lawes of the kingdome, quherwpon he groundit
the supplicants confidence, to assist aganist the eiuells and the
manteiners therof, seing his Maiestie, by proclamation, was cleired
from authorizing the same.
After the forsaid relatione made by him, he presented a new bill,
with a declinatour against the bischopes, and the double of the
supplicatione presented the 23 of September, and 18 of October; and
becausse no bischopes wer in the counsaile that day, some one quho
remoued himselue befor the complainers cam in, he protested that the
bischopes heirafter should not be permitted to sitt as ther iudges,
wntill the causse was decydit, becausse they war parties, and albeit
they be absent at this tyme, (said he,) zet they may be present at
ane other tyme, and, possible both the most pairt of the counsaile
and complainers shall be absent. The Chanceler with 6 or seuin other
bischopes and coram of the counsaile, may determine vpone our causse
and petitions, als weill as they passed ane acte of counsaile, for
approuing the seruice booke befor it was ather printed or seine, which
acte, wee persuade ourselues had neuer beine passed, if ather ther
had beine a frequent counsaile, or if the bischopes had not beine
predominant ingredientes at that tyme.
After this, he said, our desyres tend to no other end bot the
præseruation of trew religion, the saluatione of our soules, and the
subiectes lawfull liberties; and quher wee craue the matter to be
trayed, and the bischopes and prælats delinquent takin order with
according to iustice, wee nather craue ther blood, nore harme to ther
persones; bot that the abusses and wronges done by them may be trewlie
remonstrat to his Maiesty, that after dew trayell of the wronges, such
order may be takin as the eiuells may be remedit; and that the power
wich they haue takin may be restrained, that the lyke eiuells may be
preuented in tyme to come.
Loudoun thus hauing endit his speach, Traquair, the Thesaurer,
preceiding in counsaile, acknouledged the treuthe of the relatione and
equity of the petition, and so remoued the parties complainers. It past
to interloquitor, and thereafter in ane acte.
* * * * *
1637.—December 24.
25. _Act of Council._[48]
The Lordes of secrett counsaile, hauing heard and considered the
tuo suplications and petitions giuen in by the noblemen, barrons,
ministers and burgeses, and finding the matter in them conteinned to
be of that waight and importance, that they cannot determine therein
wntill his Maiestie be acquanted with the same, and his royall pleasur
returned theranent. Therfor, the saides Lordes, for anssuer to the tuo
suplications and petitions, declared that they present the same to his
Maiesties royall consideratione, and that without prejudice of the
declinator giuen in by the saides suplicants, quherwpon they shall be
hard in tyme and place conuenient; and in the meane tyme shall receaue
no præiudice: quherwpone the saides supplicants asked instruments.[49]
1638.—February 19.
26. _Proclamatian at Stirling._[50]
Charles by the grace God, King of great Britaine, France, and Ireland,
defender of the faith, &c. To Our Lovits, &c.