[Historical Works Contents – Original]
1631.
Vpone the first of Januarij, 1631, ther was a mightie feast made to the ambassador in the Kinges palace, at wiche ther wer non bot grandees and men of the golden key, quho are gentlemen of the Kings bed chamber. The ambassador sate at the tabells end, and all suche as had beine wsed to sitt with him at his auen table, wer placed aboue all the grandees; so that bothe the feast and conducting him to the palace, was of the gratest state that euer hath beine expressed ther to aney ambassador.
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As Regni Regis Carolj 7, et Sal: 1631.
Monday the 25 of Apryle, this zeire, Merwin, Lord Audley, Earle of Castleheauen, was brought from the Tower of London, and arrained at Vestminster, for a rape and sodomie; he was trayed by his peeires, and found guilty. The Lord Couentry, Lord Keeper of the Grate Seall, was Lord Steward for the day, quho gaue sentence of death aganist him, viz. to returne to the place from quhence he cam, and from thence to the place of execution, and ther to be hanged wntill his bodey war dead. His judgement being past, he boued himselue werey low to the Lordes, and humbley besought ther Lordschipes to be intercessors to his Matie that he might not dye so basse a death, bot dye the death of a nobleman, and then returned to the Touer.
Saterday the 14 of Maij, aboute 9 of the clocke, Merwin, Earle of Castleheauin, was brought to the scaffold, one Tower hill, quher with grate meiknesse he demained himselue, and with wery temperat speiches he spoke to the people and others that wer aboute him. He werey reuerently confessed his sinns, and prayed werey deuotly for remissione. He gaue his Maiesty all humble and heartly thankes for so honorable a deathe. He drew a paper out of his pokett, and caused a young man with a full woyce read it to the assembley. His prayers being endit, he layed his necke wpone the blocke, and was beheadit at one blowe.
Sunday the 10 of Julij, this zeire, Sr Francis Cottingtone, knight, Chanceler of the Exchequer, was creatted Lord Cottingtone, Baron of Hanworthe, at Greinwitch.
Monday, 24 of October, this same zeire, Sr Thomas Richardsone, knight, Lord Cheiffe Justice of the Comon Pleas, was made Lord Cheiffe Justice of the Kinges Benche.
Thursday, 27 of October, this zeire, Sr Robert Heath, knight, the Kings Atturney Generall, was made Lord Cheiffe Iustice of the Comon Pleas; and in his place was that learnid antiquarey and lawyer, William Noye, Esquyre, made the Kinges Atturney Generall.
Fryday the fourte of Nouember, this same zeire, betueen fyue and sex a clocke in the morning, was borne the Ladey Marey, his Maties eldest daughter, at St. James, neir Charing Crosse.
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As Regni Regis Carolj 8, et Sal: 1632.
The 18 of Junij, 1632, Francis Windebanck was suorne Secretarey of Stait, which place was procured to him from the King, by Lade, the ouer-reulinge Bischope of London, a prime actor in all the followinge tragidies.
The 25 of this same mounthe of Junij, the Lord Thesaurer, Westone, Earle of Portelands eldest sone, was married to the Ladey Frances Steuarte, 2d daughter to Esme, Duck of Lennox, and sister to James, Ducke of Lennox and Richmond.
The 2d of December, this zeire, being Sunday, the small poxe appeired vpone his Maiesty, bot his strenth and vigore ouercame the deseasse wich was not violent.
One Thursday the 27 of December, this same zeire, Thomas, Earle of Arundaill, sett forward in his iorney to the Netherlandes, to bring ouer the Queine of Bohemia and her children to England; bot ere he wan the Douns, that faire wether wich had blowin him from the courte wes ouer clouded, and he recalled. Thesse wer the fruittes of policies of the Romishe and Spanishe factions, the onlie directors of all the courte cabinett counsailles at this tyme.
In Nouember this zeire, 1632, James Law, Archbischope of Glasgow, departed this lyffe, and was interrid in S. Mungos churche ther, the 8 of this same mounthe, and to him succidit in the sea of Glasgow, Patrick Lindesay, Bischope of Ross.
Touardes the midle of this same mounth, dyed Ladey Anna Leuingston, Countesse of Eglintone, eldest sister to Alexander, 2d Earle of Linlithgow; and first wyffe to Alexander, Earle of Eglinton; shoe was interred the 24 of this mounthe.
The 28 of this same mounthe of Nouember, deyed Sr Jhone Hamiltone of Magdelandes, knight, Clerck Register, and one of his Maiesties priuey counsaill, at Holyrudhousse, and was interred in the abey churche ther; and to his place was preferred Mr Johne Hay, Toune Clercke of Edinbrughe, quho therafter wrote himselue Sr Jo: Hay of Landes, knight, one altogider corrupte, full of vickednesse and villaney, and a suorne enimey to the peace of his countrey, quhom, in the history of King Charles the firsts lyffe, I shall haue occasione more particularly to hold fourth to the world in his auen colores.
In December, this zeire, deyed Francis Hay, 3d sone to Francis, Earle of Erole, Lord Grate Constable of Scotland, at Holyrudhousse, about the 34 zeire of his age, and was intterred in the abey churche ther.
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As 9 Regni Regis Carolj, et Sal: 1633.
Aboute the 11 of Maij, this zeire, with a goodlie traine of attendents, his Maiestie tooke hes iorney from London towardes Scotland. His traine consisted of,
13 Noblemen,
Mr Vice Chamberlaine,
Secretarey of Estait,
Mr of the Priuey Pursse,
2 Bischopes,
A Clercke of the Closet,
2 Gentlemen Vshers of the Priuey Chamber,
3 Gentlemen Vshers, quarter waitters,
6 Groumes of his Bed Chamber,
2 Cupe Bearirs,
2 Caruers,
2 Sewars,
2 Squyres of the Bodey,
3 Groumes of the Priuey Chamber,
2 Seriants at Armes,
2 Seuars of the Chamber,
1 Master of Requystes,
6 Chaiplaines,
2 Phisitians,
2 Chirurgians,
1 Apothecarey,
1 Barber,
1 Groome Porter,
3 for his Robes,
4 for the Wardrobe,
7 Pages of the Bed Chamber,
3 Pages of the Presence,
Zeoman of the Gaurde, 61,
2 Crosse Bowes,
2 Groumes of the Chamber,
9 Messingers,
6 Trumpeters,
8 Cookes,
Skurers and Turnebroches, 42,
7 Musitians,
Subdean of his Maties Chapell,
4 Westreymen,
The Knight Harbinger,
Mr Coumptroller.
With this gallant traine came his Maiestie from London to Beruicke, the 8 of Junij, quher he stayed wntill Wedinsday in the morninge, the 12 day; from thence to Dunglas, one night, then to Setton, one night, and from that to Dalkeithe one night, in both wich places his Maiesty receaued werey magnificent intertainiment from the Earle of Vinton at Setton, and from the Earle of Morton at Dalkeithe; from wich his Maiesty went directly to Edinbrughe, one Saterday the 15 of Junij, quher he entred with all his traine, in a werey triumphant and royall equipage.
The Order of K. Charles the I. Triumphall Entrey into the Citey of Edinbrughe.
One the 16 of Junij, the Lord Cornelius Smoski, &c. ambassador from the King of Polland to his Maiesty, was receaued this day, being Sunday, and had audience, this same day, in the afternoone, in grate stait, in his Maties priuey chalmber at Holyrudhousse. After this first audience, so longe as he remained in this kingdome, he was royally intertained wpon his Maties charges.
The 17 day of Junij, this zeire, Ducke de Arscottes tuo sones, Princes Shemej and his brother, tuo proper gentlemen, they had audience of his Matie in his priuey chamber at Holyrudhousse, in grate staite and brauerey; the young Prince deliuered his Majesty a letter, which, after he had read, and a complement past, they tooke ther live and departed to ther lodgeing, being attendit by a grate maney of the nobility and his Maiesties seruants.
The 18 day of this mounthe, cam K. Charles from Edinbrughe castle, quher he had lodged all the night past, in grate stait to the abey churche of Holyrudhousse, quher he was solemlie crouned; and becausse this was the most glorious and magnifique coronatione that euer was seine in this kingdome, and the first King of Grate Brittane that euer was crouned in Scotland; to behold thesse triumphes and ceremonies, maney strangers of grate quality resorted heither from diuersse countries. In this Annall I haue purposly omitted the particulars of this inauguration, in respecte I haue published the same apairt.
The 19 day of this mounth of Junij, the parliament satte doune, and his Maiesty roade to it in stait, with his nobility and estaites, from his palace of Holyrudhousse, to the olde parliament housse in Edinbrughe, aboue St. Geilles churche, in wich ther was granted to his Maiesty 30 shilinges termley vpone the pound land, at eurey one of sex seuerall tearmes following, and the 16 penney of all annuall rents; the 3d and 4 actes of this parliament so much displeassed the subiects, that in effecte they war the werey ground stones of all the mischeiffes that hath since folloued. One quherof was anent his Maiesties royall prerogatiue and apparrell of kirkemen; the other a ratificatione of all actes made in former parliaments tuoching religion; and to bind the subiects the more to obserue thesse, his Maiesties general reuocation was ratiffied, wich was only intendit to be ane awband ouer men that wold presume to attempte aney thing aganist the tuo former actes. Bot it proued in the end a forcible rope to draw the affections of the subiecte from the Prince. To be short, of 31 actes and statutes concludit in this parliament, not thre of them bot wer most hurtefull to the liberty of the subiecte; and as it wer als maney partitions to seperat the King from his people. This parliament was led one by the Episcopall and courte faction, wich therafter proued to be that stone that afterwardes crusht them in pieces, and the fewell of that flame wich sett all Brittane a fyre not longe therafter. In this parliament, his Maiesty notitit ype the names of suche as wotted aganist the 3 former actes, with his auen hand, quherin he expressed now and then a grate deall of spleene; this vnseimly acte of his Maiesties bred a grate hearte burning in maney, aganist his Maiesties proceidinges and gouerniment.
The Marquesse Hamilton, by his Matie was made Collector Generall of this taxation granted by this parliament, and had, forbay his fees, a precept of fourtie thousand pound starling to himselue, outt of the first therof.
The 24 of Junij, be St. Jhone Baptists day, his Maiesty went to his chapell royall in stait, and ther made a soleme offertorey, and therafter tuoched aboute 100 persons that wer troubled with the Kings eiuell, putting about eurey one of ther neckes a pice of gold, (coyned for the purpois) hung at a whyte silk riband.
The 28 day of this mounthe, the parliament endit and read, at wich solemity the Marquesse of Douglas did beare the croune, Rothes the scepter, and Eglintone the suord, from the parliament housse to the palace of Holyrudhousse, befor his Maiestie.
The 1 of Julij, this zeire, his Maiesty continewed his progresse from Edinbrugh to Linlithgow, quher he stayed one night, from thence to Stirling, tuo nights; one Thursday he came to Dumfermling, the place of his birth, and from thence to Falkland and to Perth, quher he was magnificently feasted, with all his courte, by George, Earle of Kinnoule, Lord Chanceler of Scotland. From Perth, his Maiestie returned tuo nights to Falkland, quher he had beine formerlie three.
The 10 of Julij, being Wedindsay, his Maiesty earlie remoued from Falkland to Edinbrughe, quher in his passage from Brunt Iyland to Leith, he was in grate ieopardy of his lyffe by a suddaine storme wich did arrysse after a grate raine that had beine all the preceiding night and morning, bot spent itselue in less then halffe ane houre. His Matie with no small danger recouered his auen shipe, wich awaitted for him in Brunt Iyland roade, sauelie landit at Leithe, onlie ther was a litle boate with some of the Kinges plate and moneyes, and 8 seruants, lost.
From his Maiesties coming to Scotland, to his returne for England, he dubbed 54 knights, at seuerall tymes, in diuersse places.
To honor his coronation, first parliament and place of his birthe, he creatted 1 Marquesse, 10 Earles, 2 Viscounts, 8 Lordes, wich wer:
William, Earle of Angus, created Marquesse of Douglas, in his Maiesties withdrawing chamber at Holyrudhousse, 17 Junij;
George Hay, Viscount Dupleine, Lord Chanceler of Scotland, creatted Earle of Kinnoule;
William Crighton, Viscount of Aire, Lord Sanquhare, creatted Earle of Dumfreis;
William Douglas, Vicount Drumlanrick, Earle of Queinsburrey;
William Alexander, Vicount Canada, Lord Alexander of Menstrie, created Earle of Streueling, principall Secretarey to his Maiesty for Scotland;
Johne Bruce, Lord Killosse, creatted Earle of Elgyne;
David, Lord Carnegy, creatted Earle of Southescke;
John Steuarte, Lord Traquare, creatted Earle of Traquaire;
Sr Robert Ker, creatted Earle of Ancrum, Lord Nisbett, Langneutone and Dolphingston;
Johne, Lord Wymees, creatted Earle of Wymees, and Lord Elcho;
William Ramsay, Lord Ramsay, creatted Earle of Dalhoussie.
The 2 Viscounts wer:
Sr Johne Gordone of Lochinwar, knight, creatted Viscount Keanmure, Lord Gordon of Lochinwar;
Sr Robert Douglas of Spote, knight, creatted Viscount Belheauen, Lord Douglas of Spote.
The 8 Lordes wer:
Patrick Oliphant, created Lord Oliphant;
Sr James Leuingstone, 2d brother to Alexander, Earle of Linlithgow, creatted Lord Almont;
Sr James Johnston, Lord Johnston;
Sr Alexander Forbes, creatted Lord Pitsligo;
Sr Dauid Lindesay, creatted Lord Balcarras;
Sr Johne Frasser of Muchelles, creatted Lord Frasser.
The 18 of Julij, his Maiesty did begin his iorney from Edinbrughe to Dalkeithe, quher he stayed one night; then to Setton, and from it to Innerweick, quher he was royally intertained by James Maxswoll, one of the Groomes of his Bed-chamber; and so to Beruick, from quhence, with 40 of his most necessarey seruants, he tooke post troughe England to Greinwitch, quher the Queine then lay.
Margaret Halybrunton, Vicountesse of Dupleine, departed this lyffe one Thursday, the 4 of Appryle, and was interrid at the churche of Kinnoule, one Tuesday, 7 of Maij, this same zeire.
The 27 of Maij, deyed Collen Mackenzie, Earle of Seafort, Lord Kintale, at his housse of Braune, and wes interrid ther; and to him succidit — Mackenzie of Kildun, his brother by the father, and was second Earle of Seafort.
The 29 of October, this zeire, deyed Ladey Margarett Hamiltone, 2d daughter to James, 2d Marques of Hamilton, and 1 wyffe to James Douglas, now 2d Earle of Queinsburrey, at Drumlanricke, and interrid at the churche ther.
The 20 of October, this same zeire, deyed Sr James Skeine of Currihill, Knight and Barronet, President of the Colledge of Justice, at his auen housse in Edinbrughe, and wes interred in the Gray Fryars ther.
The 25 of this mounthe of October, this zeire, 1633, deyed Dauid, Lord Carnegy, eldest sone to Dauid, Earle of Southeske, at Edinbrughe, and wes interrid amongest his ancesters in Kynaird churche, in Angusse-shyre, the 1 of Nouember.
The 21 of December, this zeire, deyed Walter Scott, first Earle of Buckcleuche, at London, of ane apoplexie; his corpes wer enbalmed and brought to Scotland, and solemly layed amongest his ancesters, at Branxholme; and to him succidit his eldest sone Francis.
I find it so necessarey for cleiring the fontaine and spring from quhence all the succiding grate alterations and changes, both of churche and stait, did seime to flow, (the vulgar being made beleiue so) as a corrolarey of the emergents of this zeir, heir to make a digression, and to present to posterity some griuances giuen in by some ministers, in Junij this zeire, and presented to the Clerck of Register, Sr Johne Hay, for obedience to the proclamatione (by wich all wer ordaned) to giue in ther bills, griuances, &c. to him, befor the sitting doune of the parliament. The ministers, therfor, that stood for the preseruatione of the purity of religion in doctrine, vorschipe and gouerniment, assayed sundrie meins to haue his Maiestie rightly informed of the estait of this churche, bot the successe was not anssuerable to ther expectatione; zet hauing the opportunity of his Maiesties cominge to his natiue countrie of Scotland to be crouned, and hold his first parliament, they adwyssed wpone some griuances to be presented to his Maiestie and estaites. It was ordained by acte of parliament 1594, that 4 of eurey estait should conweine twentie dayes befor the begining of the parliament, to consider all artickells and petitions wich wer to be giuen in, that suche thinges onlie might be putt in forme, and presented to the Lordes of the Artickells in tyme of parliament, as wer resonable and necessarey; and that suche as wer impertinent and friuolous might be reiected; bot it was not determined quho should make choysse of the persons. Zet this was not obserued befor this parliament; bot wpone the 16 day of Maij, this zeire, intimation was made be proclamatione by a herauld, at the crosse of Edinbrughe, that such as purposed to giue in aney artickells or petitions, should deliuer the same to the Clercke Register, Sr Johne Hay, (a suorne enimey to religion and honesty, and a slaue to the bischopes and courte) betuix and the first of Junij, to be presented by him to suche of the estaites and counsaill as should be appoynted to heire and consider them. The ministers fearing not to be hard otherwayes, appoynted one of ther distressed brethren, Mr Thomas Hoge, to present ther griuances to him; wich he presented and deliuered, and tooke instruments therewpon in the handes of a publicke notarey. Thus went the rubricke of these griuances.
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 præuilidges, 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 ware rant 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 ther 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.
As 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 forsaid.
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 respective, 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 werey entrey therof, 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 generall 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 deliuered in kirkes and scooles without controlment; the commissioners votters in parliament lay untrayed and; 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 honorable 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 assembley of the kirke, zea, or acte of parliament; quherby the entrey to the ministrie is shutte vpon the best qualified, and others lesse able are obtruded vpone the people, to ther grate greiffe and hazard of ther soulles. Our humble petition therfor 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, befor 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 dir rected 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 Majesty 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 (as I haue formerly showen,) layed the fundatione of ane irreconcilable schisime, and proued afterwardes the ruine bothe of King and bischopes.
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