and scandalous provocation and grievous defection from the publike
Cause, which some have beene guiltie of, by complying with the Rebels
the publike enemies of this Kirk and Kingdom: And judging it a dutie
incumbent to them to bring such notorious offenders to publike
satisfaction, that the wrath of God may be averted, and the publike
scandall removed; Do therefore Require, Decern, and Ordain, that
such as after lawfull tryall shall be found to have been in actuall
Rebellion and to have carried charge with the Rebels, To have accepted
Commissions for raising Horse or Foot unto them, To have been seducers
of others to joyn in that Rebellion, To be the Penners or contrivers
of James Grahames Proclamation for indicting a pretended Parliament,
or of any other his Proclamations or Declarations, To have beene prime
Instruments in causing publish the said Proclamations and Declarations;
That all and every one of such offenders shall humbly acknowledge
their offence upon their knees, first before the Presbyterie, and
thereafter before the Congregation upon a Sabbath, in some place before
the Pulpit; And in the mean time that they be suspended from the Lords
Supper: And in case they do not satisfie in manner foresaid, that
they be processed with Excommunication. And likewise Ordains, that
such as shall be found to have procured Protections from the Rebels,
To have execute their orders, To have invited them to their houses,
To have given them intelligence, To have drank James Grahames health,
or to be guilty of any other such grosse degrees of complyance, shall
acknowledge their offences publikely before the Congregation, and
be suspended from the Communion ay and while they doe the same. And
further Decernes and Ordains, that all persons in any Ecclesiastick
office guilty of any degrees of complyance before mentioned, shall be
suspended from their office and all exercise thereof, for such time
as the quality of the offence and condition of the offenders shall be
found to deserve; And the Assembly hereby declares, that Presbyteries
have a latitude and liberty to agreadge the censures above specified,
according to the degrees and circumstances of the offences; And gives
in like manner the same latitude and liberty to the Commissioners of
this Assembly for publike affairs, who have also power to try and
censure the offenders in manner above exprest, and to take account of
the diligence of Presbyteries thereintill.
_Act concerning Iames Grahams Proclamation._
The Generall Assembly having considered a copie of a Proclamation
published by order of that excommunicat Traitor James Graham, for
indicting of a pretended Parliament, and finding the same to be full
of blasphemies against the Solemn League and Covenant of the three
Kingdoms, and of vile aspersions of Treason, Rebellion, and Sedition,
most falsly and impudently imputed to the Estates, and most faithfull
and loyall Subjects of this Kingdome: Doe therfore declare, That such
as have bin prime Instruments of the publishing of that or the like
Proclamation and Declaration, deserve the highest censures of the Kirk,
unlesse they make humble confession of their offence publikely, in such
manner as is prescribed by this Assembly; And humbly Recommends to the
Committee of Estates to take some course for their exemplary civill
punishment, and that some publike note of ignominie be put upon that
Proclamation as their Honors shall think meet.
18 Junii, 1646. Ante Meridiem. Sess. Ult.
_Act against loosing of Ships and Barks upon the Lords Day._
The Generall Assembly understanding how much the Lords day is profaned
by Skippers and other Seafaring men, Do therefore discharge and
inhibite all Skippers and Sailers to begin any voyage on the Lords day,
or to loose any Ships, Barks or Boats out of Harbery or Road upon that
day, And who shall doe in the contrary hereof, shall be censured as
profaners of the Sabbath: Recommending to Presbyteries and others whom
it may concerne to see both the Acts of Assembly and Parliament made
for censuring and punishing profanation of the Lords day, to be put in
execution against them.
_Act anent Children sent without the Kingdom._
Whereas divers Children have been sent without the Kingdom to be
bred abroad, and have been or in time coming may be exposed to the
temptations of seducers, and drawn away from the Trueth established
and professed within this Church to errour of Poperie, or other Sects
and Heresies: Therefore the Assembly Ordains, that the Parents or
Friends of Children and Minors, shall before they send them without
the Kingdom, first acquaint the Presbytery where they reside, that
they may have their Testimoniall directed to the Presbytery or Classe
within the Kingdom of France, or England, or Ireland; and at the time
of these Childrens return from any of the saids Kingdoms, to report ane
Testimoniall from the Presbytery or Synode where they lived without the
Kingdom of their breeding there, and to shew the same to the Presbytery
within the Kingdom who gave them a Testimoniall at their way going.
Likeas the Assembly Ordains all Presbyteries to try if any Children
have been sent to Popish Schooles or Colledges without the Kingdom;
And if any be found, that their names be given to the Presbytery or
Commissioners of the Assembly, that the same may be presented to
the Honourable Lords of Secret Councell, or Committee of Estates,
that their Lordships may be humbly desired by their authority to
recall them, that after return to this Kingdom a course may be taken,
according to the former Ordinances of Generall Assemblies, for their
breeding in the true Religion.
_Overtures presented to the Assembly._
I. That correspondence be keeped among Presbyteries constantly by
letter without prejudice of personall correspondence when need
requires, whereby one Presbyterie may understand what many are doing,
and they may be mutually assisting each to other.
II. That for the better breeding of young men to the Ministerie
who are not able to furnish themselves in charges to attend in the
Universities, that the Presbyteries where they reside appoint some to
direct their studies.
III. That it be recommended to all the Universities to condiscend upon
the best Overtures for the most profitable teaching of Grammar and
Phylosophy, and as they may meet at the Commission of the Generall
Assembly to make the matter ripe for the next Assembly.
The Assembly approves these Overtures, and recommends accordingly.
IV. That to the intent the knowledge of God in Christ may be spread
through the Highlands and Islands (for in lack whereof the land hath
smarted in the late troubles) these courses be taken: 1. Let an order
be procured, that all Gentlemen who are able, at least send their
eldest sons to be bred in the Inland. 2. That a Ministerie be planted
amongst them, and for that effect that Ministers and expectants who
can speak the Irish language be sent to imploy their talents in these
parts, and that the Kirks there be provided as other Kirks in this
Kingdome. 3. That Scots Schools be erected in all Parishes there,
according to the Act of Parliament, where conveniently they can be had.
4. That Ministers and ruling Elders that have the Irish language be
appointed to visit these parts.
The Assembly approves this Overture, and recommends this purpose to
further consideration, that more Overtures may be prepared thereanent
against the next Assembly.
V. That for keeping the Universities pure, and provoking the
Professors of Divinitie to greater diligence, each Professor in the
Universities of this Church and Kingdom, bring with him or send with
the Commissioner who comes to the General Assembly, ane perfit and well
written copie of his Dictates, to be revised by the Generall Assembly,
or such as they shall appoint for that work ilk year.
The Assembly continues the determination of a constant and perpetuall
order herein untill the next Assembly, but in the mean time desires
the professors of Divinity to present to the next Assembly their
Dictates of Divinity, wherof the professors present are to give
intimation to the professors absent.
VI. The great burdens Intrants undergoes when they enter the Ministery,
which holds many of them long at under, would crave the Assemblies
judgement and authority, that Ministers Manses and Stipends may be all
made free to the Intrant.
The Assembly refers and recommends to the Commissioners for publike
affairs to seek redresse in this matter from the Honorable Estates of
Parliament, and to consider of some fitting Overtures to be presented
to their Honours for that effect.
_Renovation of the Commission for the publike affairs of the Kirk._
The Generall Assembly taking to their consideration that in respect the
great work of Uniformity in Religion in all his Majesties Dominions
is not yet perfited, (though by the Lords blessing there is a good
progresse made in the same) there is a necessity of renewing the
Commissions granted formerly for prosecuting and perfiting that
great work; Doe therefore renew the power and Commission granted for
the publike affairs of the Kirk by the Generall Assemblies held in
S. Andrews in the year 1642, and in Edinburgh 1643, 1644, and 1645,
unto the persons following, viz. Masters Alexander Henderson, Robert
Douglas, William Colvil, William Bennet, George Gillespie, John Oswald,
John Adamson, William Dalgleish, David Calderwood, James Fleeming,
Robert Ker, John Dalyell, James Wright, John Knox, Adam Penman, Robert
Lichtoun, Alexander Dickeson, Patrick Fleeming, John Hay, Richard
Dickeson, Thomas Vasse, David Drummond, Alexander Somervill, Robert
Eliot, Robert Blair, James Bruce, Robert Traile, Samuel Rutherfurd,
Alexander Colvill, Walter Greg, Alexander Balfour, George Thomson, John
Moncreiff, John Smith, Patrick Gillespie, John Duncan, James Sibbald,
Alexander Casse, John Hume, Alexander Kinneir, Walter Swintoun,
Robert Knox, William Penman, James Guthrie, Thomas Donaldson, William
Jameson, Thomas Wilkie, John Knox, Robert Murray, John Freebairn,
Robert Wright, David Auchterlonie, William Maior, Samuel Austein,
John Leirmont, Andrew Lauder, James Irving, Alexander Turnbull, James
Bonar, William Adair, John Neve, Patrick Colvil, Matthew Birsbane,
John Hamiltoun, Allan Ferguson, Robert Ramsay, Geo. Young, David
Dickson, Robert Bailie, James Nasmith, John Lindsay, John Weir, Evan
Cameron, James Affleck, John Robison, Andrew Eliot, Silvester Lambie,
Laurence Skinner, William Rate, David Campbel, Andrew Cant, William
Douglas, David Lindsay, Gilbert Anderson, Alexander Garrioch, William
Jaffray, Thomas Law, William Campbell, Walter Stewart, _Ministers_; And
Archibald Marquesse of Argyle, John Earle of Crawfurd-Lindsay, William
Earle Marshall, William Earl of Glencairn, John Earle of Cassils,
Charles Earle of Dumfermling, James Earle of Tullibardine, Francis
Earle of Bacleugh, John Earle of Lauderdale, William Earle of Lothian,
William Earle of Lanerk, Archibald Lord Angus, John Lord Balmerino,
Robert Lord Burleigh, John Master of Yester, Sir Patrick Hepburn of
Waughtoun, Sir John Hope of Craighall, Sir Archibald Johnston of
Wariston, Sir David Hume of Wedderburn, Sir Robert Jnnes of that ilk,
Sir William Baily of Lamington, Sir John Muncreiffe of that ilk, James
Macdougal of Garthland, Patrick Cockburn of Clarkington, Sir Hugh
Campbel of Cesnock, Sir William Cunningham of Cunningham-head, John
Hume of Blackader, Sir James Dundas of Arniston, Alex. Forbes Tutor of
Pitsligo, M. Geo. Winrham of Libberton, David Weemes of Fingask, M.
Francis Hay of Balhousie, Alex. Brodie of that ilk, M. Alex. Colvil of
Blair, Geo. Dundas of Dudiston, William Moor of Glanderston, Sir James
Nicolson of Colbrandspaith, John Edgar of Wedderlie, William Hume of
Lenthill, James Ruchhead, Laurence Henderson, and James Stuart, Bailies
of Edinburgh, George Porterfield Provest of Glasgow, Wil. Hume there,
Ro. Arnot Provest of Perth, John Semple Provest of Dumbarton, John
Kennedie Provest of Air, M. David Weemes, Geo. Gardine, John Johnstoun,
Tho. Paterson, Tho. White, John Sleigh, _Elders_. Giving unto them
full power and Commission To do all and every thing for prosecuting,
advancing, perfecting, and bringing the said work of Uniformity in
Religion in all His Majesties Dominions to a happy conclusion, conform
to the former Commissions granted by preceding Assemblies thereanent.
And to that effect appoints them, or any seventeen of them, whereof
thirteen shall be Ministers, To meet at Edinburgh the 19 of this
Moneth, and thereafter upon the second Wednesdaies of August, November,
Februar, and May next to come, and upon any other day, and in any
other place they shall think meet. And further, renews to the persons
before named, the power contained in the Act of the said Assembly 1643,
Intituled, A reference to the Commission anent the persons designed
to repair to the Kingdom of England; As also the power contained in
two severall Acts of the said Assembly 1644, Sess. 6. made against
secret disaffecters of the Covenant and for sending Ministers to the
Armie, with full power to them to treat and determine in the matters
aforesaid, and in all other matters referred unto them by this
Assembly, as fully and freely as if the same were here particularly
expressed, and with as ample power as any Commission of former Generall
Assemblies hath had, or been in use of before; They being alwayes
for their whole proceedings comptable to, and censurable by the next
Generall Assembly.
_Renovation of the Commission for prosecuting the Treaty for Uniformity
in England._
The Generall Assembly, Taking to their consideration that the Treatie
of Uniformity in Religion in all His Majesties Dominions is not yet
perfected, Therefore Renews the power and Commission granted by
preceding Assemblies for prosecuting that Treatie, unto these persons
afternamed, viz, M. Alexander Henderson, M. Robert Douglas, M. Samuel
Rutherfurd, M. Robert Bailie, M. Geo. Gilespie, _Ministers_; And John
Earle of Lauderdale, John Lord Balmerino, and Sir Archibald Johnston
of Wariston, _Elders_; Authorizing them with full power to prosecute
the said Treatie of Uniformity with the Honourable Houses of the
Parliament of England, and the Reverend Assembly of Divines there, or
any Committees appointed by them: And to do all and every thing which
may advance, perfect, and bring that Treatie to an happy conclusion,
conform to the former Commissions given thereanent.
_The Assemblies Answer to the Kings Majestie._
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTIE,
Having received your Majesties Letter with thankfulnesse, we thought it
our dutie to send some of our number to wait upon your Majestie, and
present our humble desires more particularly then at this time could be
expressed by writ; And we are confident your Majestie will interprete
our freedom and plain dealing by them, to be a reall testimonie of
our unfained affection, who have constantly laboured to approve our
selves in all fidelity to our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, and in
all loyaltie to your Majestie; And are resolved to walk still after
the same rule in our severall stations and vocations, continuing our
Prayers for you, that God may multiply all sorts of Mercies upon your
Royall Person and Posterity, and more and more incline your heart to
the speedie following of the Counsels of Trueth and Peace, and grant
unto your Majestie a long and happy Reign, that we may live under you a
peaceable and quiet life, in all godlinesse and honesty.
_Subscribed in name of the Nationall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
by the Moderator._
Edinburgh, 18 Junii, 1646.
_The Assemblies Letter to the Right Honorable the Lords and Commons
in the Parliament of England assembled at Westminster._
RIGHT HONOURABLE,
The report of the great things which the Lord hath done for your
Honours, hath gone forth into many Lands, and it becometh us least of
any either to smother or extenuate the same; We desire to be enlarged
in the admiration of the Power and Mercie of God the Author, and to
diminish nothing of that praise that is due unto you as instruments.
When the Lord set your Honours upon the Bench of Judgment, both the
Kirk and Common wealth of England were afflicted with intestine and
bosome evills, the cure whereof could not but be very difficult,
because they were not only many, but for the most part Universal
and deeply rooted, sheltred under the shadow of Custome and Law,
and supported with all the wisdom and strength of the Malignant
and Prelaticall partie; who rather chose to involve the Land in an
unnaturall and bloody Warre, then to fail of their ambitious and
treacherous designes, against Religion, the priviledges of Parliament,
and the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdom: Neither hath that miserable
crew been wanting to their owne ends, but for many years together hath
desperately pursued their resolutions in Arms; And was likely to have
prevailed, if the Lord had not put himself in the breach, and furnished
you with much Patience, Wisdom, Courage, and Constancy, in the midst
of many difficulties and distresses; and at last with so glorious and
triumphing a successe, that the Enemy hath fallen every where before
you, and there is none left to appear against you. These things as they
be the matter of our refreshment and of your glory, so doe they lay a
strong obligation upon your Honours to walke humbly with your God, and
to improve the power he hath put into your hands for the advancement
of the Kingdom of his Son, and bringing forth of the head-Stone of his
House. The slow progresse of the work of God hath alwayes been the
matter of our sorrow, which is now increased by the multiplication
of the spirits of errour and delusion, that drowne many souls into
perdition, and so strengthen themselves, that they shall afterward
be laboured against with more pains then successe, if a speedy and
effectual remedie be not provided. And therefore as the servants of
the living God, who not onely send up our supplications daily for you,
but have hazard our selves in your defence, We do earnestly beseech
your Honors in the bowels of Jesus Christ, to give unto him the glory
that is due unto his Name, by a timous establishing all his Ordinances
in the full integritie and power thereof, according to the League and
Covenant. As long as the Assembly of Divines was in debate, and an
enemy in the fields, we conceived that these might be probable grounds
of delay, which being now removed out of the way, we do promise to our
selves from your Wisdom, Faithfulnesse, and Zeale, the perfiting of
that which was the main ground of our engagement, and a chief matter
of consolation unto us in all our sad and heavy sufferings, from the
hand of a most cruell Enemy. We know that there is a generation of men
who retard the work of Uniformity, and foment Jealousies betwixt the
Nations, studying if it were possible, to break our bands asunder; But
we trust, that he that sits in the Heavens will Laugh, and that the
Lord shall have them in derision, that he shall speak to them in his
wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure, and notwithstanding of all
that they can do, set his King upon his holy hill of Sion, and make
these Nations happy in the sweet fruits of Unity in Truth and Peace.
The searcher of hearts knows that we desire to hold fast the band of
our Covenant, as sacred and inviolable; being perswaded that the breach
of so solemne a tye could not but hasten down upon our heads a curse
and vengeance from the righteous Judge of the world, and involve these
Kingdoms in sader calamities than they have yet seen; And we abhor to
entertain any other thought of you: Nay we are confident that your
Honours will seriously indeavour the prosecution of all these ends
designed in the Covenant, and the bringing these Nations unto the
neerest conjunction both in judgement and affection, especially in
these things that concern Religion, which without all controversie, is
the readiest and surest way of attaining and securing the Peace and
Prosperity of both Kingdoms.
_Subscribed in name of the Generall Assembly by the Moderator._
Edinburgh, 18 Junii, 1646.
_The Assemblies Letter to the Right Honorable the Lord Major,
Aldermen, and Common-Counsell of the City of London._