The Lords of Secret Counfell having heard the Proueft and Bailleis of Edinburgh tuiching the propofition made be thame, and course taken conforme thereto, for a peaceable exercise of the Service-booke, and fecuritie of the perfonis imployed, or who fall be prefent and affift at the practife thairof; The Lords ordaine the Provest and Bailleis to advyfe amongs thaimfelffs anent ane obligatorie act to be given be the Toun for the reall performance of what they fall undertake in the buffines abone mentioned, And allowes thame to publifhe, by touck of drwm, the Orders to be established be thame for keeping of thair Toune in peace and quyetnes, and preventing of all trouble and commotioun within the fame. (3.) Apud Ed1 29 Julij 1637, in the Chan's loodging-Sederunt. THE CLERGIE'S REPORT ANENT THE SERUICE BOOKE. The whilk day the Archbishop of St Andrewes, Lord High Chancellor of this Kingdome, for himselfe and in name of the remanent Bishops, reported to the Counsell, That, in regaird of the late trouble and infurrection raised upon Sunday laft, for oppofing the Service-booke, and upon new emergent occafions and confiderable refpects, It wes thought fitt and expedient be thame, That there fould be a furceaffe of the Service-booke till his Maieftie fould fignifie his pleasure twiching the redreffe and punishment of the authors and actors of that disorderlie tumult, and that a course be sett down for the peaceable exercife thairof, to the glorie of God, his Maiefties honour, and the good of this Citie; And in the meane time, to the effect his Maiefties good and loyall fubjects be not defrauded of the comfort of the word, the faids Bishops had appointed and given order that, in the whole churches of this Citie, fermon fall be made at the accustomed times, by regular and obedient Ministers, and that a prayer fall be made before and after fermon, and that neither the Old feruice nor the New established feruice, be vfed in this interim: Whiche report and conclufion, takin be the faids Bishops, being heard be the Counsell, They remitted to thame to doe therein according to the power incumbent unto thame in the dewtie of thair offices. (4) Apud Edinburgh, 25 Augusti 1637. DECLARATION ANENT THE SERVICE BOOKES. The Lords of Secreit Counfell, understanding that there has been a great mistaking in the Letters and charges given out upon the Act of Counfell made anent the buying of the Service-Bookes, the faids Lords for removing and clearing of all fuch scruples, declares that the faid Act and Letters extends allanerlie to the buying of the faids Bookes and no farther. XXII. THE SUPPLICATION OF CERTAIN MINISTERS OF FYFFE, GIVEN IN TO THE COUNSELL, THE 23D OF AUGUST 1637. [From Baillie's MS. Letters and Journals: Compared with other Copies.] My Lords of Secret Counfell unto your Lordships humbly meanes and fhewes we your fervitors, Mr. Alex Henderfon minifter at Leuchars, Mr. George Hamilton minister at Newburne, and Mr. James Bruce minister at King's Barnes, That where we wer requyred of late, by the Moderator of our Prefbytery, to receive tuo coppies of the new Booke of Common Prayer, and declaring our felves most willing each of us to receive one of the faid Bookes to read, that we might know what it containes before we could promise to practise it, alleadging, that in matters of God's worship we are not bound to blind obedience; it was refuifed us, and taken out of fome of our hands; and yet we are now charged with Letters of horning, directed by your Lordships, upon a narrative that we have refuised the saids Bookes out of curiofity and fingularity, to provyd every one of us tuo of the faids Bookes for the use of our Parishes, which hath made us, who wer never acquainted with any charge from authority, and knowing no other way fo just and voyd of offence, to have recourse to your Lordships, most humbly intreating, that the Charge may be fufpended, for the Reasons following: 1. Because this Booke is neither warranted by the authority of the Generall Affembly, which is the reprefentative Church of this Kingdome, and hath, ever fince the Reformation, given direction in matters of God's worship; nor by any Act of Parliament, which in things of this kind hes ever been thought necessary be his Majestie and the Estates. 2. Because the liberties of the true Kirk, and the form of worship and religion received at the Reformation and univerfally practised fenfyne, is warranted be the Acts of Generall Affemblies, and diverse Acts of Parliament, especially of the Parliament 1567, and the late Parliament 1633. 3. The Kirk of Scotland is ane free and independant Kirk, and their pastours should be most able to difcerne and direct, what doth beft befeeme our measure of Reformation, and what may ferve moft for the good of the people. 4. It is not unknoun to your Lordfhips, what difputing, divifion, and trouble hath been in this Kirk, about fome few of the manie Ceremonies contained in this Booke; which being examined (as we shall be ready, a competent tyme being affigned be your Lordships to show,) will be found to depart far from the forme of worship and reformation of this Kirk, and in poynts moft materiall to draw neir to the Kirk of Rome, which for her herefies in doctrine, fuperftition and idolatry in worship, tyrannie in government, and wickedness every way, is als Antichristian now, as when we came out of hir. 5. The People hath been otherwayes taught by us and our predeceffors in our places ever fince the Reformatione, and fo it is likely they will be found unwilling to the change when they shall be affayed, even where their pastors are willing, in refpect whereof, the faids Letters of horning, haill effect and executions whereof, ought to be fufpended fimply in tyme coming. Therefore, we beseech your Lordships that we may have letters directed, charging the persons who has caused use this Charge against us, to compeir personally, bringing and producing the faid Letters of horning, with the executions and indorfations thereof, at ane certain day, to be seen and confidered; and in the meantime to be fufpended, and your Lordships anfuer, &c. XXIII. INFORMATIONS GIVEN TO SEVERALI. COUNSELLERS. 1. This Booke of Common Prayer hath no warrand of a Nationall Affembly, which in all Nations ought to direct, and in this Nation hath directed, in the matter of God's worship ever fince the Reformation. 2. It hath no warrand of the Eftates of Parliament, without whofe confent to alter the Form of worship, and to enjoyn all his Majeftie's fubjects to receive every form of religion, under the pain of rebellion, we defyre to be confidered how important this is. 3. The Form of worship here is ratified be the Parliament 1633, and confequently all different Forms are forbidden. 4. This Kirk is a free and independant Kirk, no less then the Kingdom is a free and· independant Kingdom; and as our oun Patriots can beft judge what is for the good of the Kingdom, fo our oun Paftors fhould be most able to judge what form of worship befeemeth our Reformation, and what ferveth most for the good of the People. 5. This Booke destroyeth all the order of our Kirk-Seffions, Prefbytries, and Affemblies, and puts the cenfure of doctrine, the admiffion of minifters, and the whole government of the Kirk, abfolutely in the hands of the Prelatts. 6. It establisheth a reading ministry; whofoever can read the Booke can be a minister, ད and he who is best gifted must say no more nor he readeth, whether in prayer, baptism, communion, &c. 7. It prescryveth Apocrypha to be read, as if it wer the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles; hath many grofs poynts of Popery, and openeth a wide door by generalities and ambiguities of speech to many moe, as we shall be ready and are most defirous to be imployed, to manifeft in particulars, upon a competent tym granted to us by authority. XXIV. LETTERS TO AND FROM THE LORDS OF PRIVY COUNCIL [From the Same.] (1.) THE COUNCELL'S LETTER TO THE KING. MOST SACRED SOVERAIGNE, ACCORDING to the warrant of your Majefties commandement, wee have been most willing and readie to give all concurrence and affiftance to my Lords of the Clergie for eftablishing of the Service-Booke; and notwithstanding of that barbarous tumult (occafioned allenarlie, for any thing wee can yet learne, by a number of base and rascall people,) wee were very hopeful in a fhort time, without any further trouble or importunity to your Majestie, to have brought it to practice: but having appointed a meeting of Councell upon the 23d of August inftant, in this extraordinarie time of vacation, exprefflie to think upon the best expediencies for advancing of that Service, wee found ourselves farre by our expectation, furprised with the clamours and feares of your Majeftie's fubjects from almost all the partes and corners of the Kingdome; and that even of these who otherwayes hes heretofore lived in obedience and conformitie to your Majeftie's lawes, bothe in Ecclefiaftical and Civile buffineffe, and thus wee finde it fo to increase, that we conceave it to be a matter of high confequence in respect of the generall murmure and grudge in all fortes of people for urging of the practice of the Service-Booke, as the like hath not being heard in this Kingdom; so that wee dare not longer delay, nor conceill it from your Majeftie, not knowing whereunto the fame may tend, and what effects it may produce; neither dare wee dyve further in the tryell of the cause of the faid feares or remedies thereof, till it fhall please your Majeftie, in the deepneffe of your Royal judgment, to prescrive the way, after hearing of all the particulars, either by calling fome of your Majefties Councell, bothe Clergie and Laitie, to your Majestie's owne presence, to the effect a course may be taken for pacifieing the present commotion, and establishing of the said Service-Booke, or otherwayes by fuch other meanes as your Majestie in your oune great wisdome shall think fitting; and wee have appointed the 20th of September for attending your Majefties pleasure hereanent, which wee, as becomes humble and faithfull fubjects, and thefe whom your Majeftie has honoured with your Royall commandments, will follow and obey and fo, with all our moft humble prayers for your Majeftie's long and profperous reign, we humblie kiffe your Royall handes, from Edinburgh 25th of August 1637. Right Reverend Father in God, &c.-Wee have confidered your letter, and do find that our former directions have produced verie fmall effects; neither doe you hereby propone any new expedient, but onlie that you defire that fome of the Clergie and Laitie fhould be sent for to deall with us therein, which wee conceave not to be fitt; and by a needleffe noyfe, would make it appear, that either wee have a verrie flack Councell, or verie bad fubjects which wee will never beleive, having had foe great a proofe of their affection heretofoir; but rather will that a fufficient number of you doe still attend at Edinburgh, or neere thereabout during the vacation tyme, till the Service-Book be settled; and wee are not well fatiffied neither with yow nor with our Town of Edinburgh : that after that the Service was read upone the Sonday in the afternoone, it should have beene intermitted immediately thereafter, and that no delinquents, who were authors or accefforie to that infolencie and ryot (committed in the tumult that day), were nowayes cenfured to terrify others from attempting the like; and it doth likewayes feeme verie strange unto us, that the Ministry of Edinburgh, haveing offered to beginne the reading of the Service prouyding that they were fecured from indemnity, and releeved by our faid Cittie of the forefaid charge within a moneth thereafter, that the faid offer was not accepted, which wee will you yet to accept, and fee it performed; and it is our pleasure that everie Bishop cause read the Service within his oune diocie, as the Bifchops of Rofs and Dumblane have alreadie done; as lykewayes that yee warne our Burrowis, particularlie that none of them make choyfe of any Magiftrates but of fuch for whom they will answere for their conformitie: So expecting that yee will extend the uttermoft of your endeavours, by doing what is neceffary, and preventing any inconvenients that |