Fourthlie, Notwithstanding it was exprefflie provydit be act of Counsell, that none fould prefume to traffique or fpeake in favour of the faids excommunicats, vnder the paine of tinfell of thair offices; get now they are advancit in greater credit of his Majestie, that have bein knowin to be thair cheifeft favourers; and they ceafe not get, contrair to thair promises, to procure them all favour, ficht and immunitie, as it appeirs in effect, quhatfoevir they pretend. Fyftlie, The erectioun of the idolatrie of the Mess in diverse quarters of the land, as, namelie, in Mr Walter Lindsayes house of Balgay in Angus, in the gong Laird of Bonytounes houfe of Birnes, in the Erle of Angus house of Bothwell in Cliddifdaill, and in the places of his refidence in Dowglafdaile, and in the Erle of Huntlies houfe of Strabogie and Auld Aberdein, in the Erle of Errolls houfe of Logieamount and Slaines, proves cleirlie that either they find themselves fufficiently affured of such favour and affiftance within the countrey as may plainly mantaine thair cause be force, or els [that] they are perfwadit of the aide of strangers, to be at readines in fuch due tyme as they may ferve for thair releife, before that his Majestie and the profeffours of religioun performe any thing in effect in the contrair, or vtherwayes they durft nevir fo openlie difclofe thair idolatrie. Sextlie, The refufeing of the act of abolitioun offerit to them be his Majestie, to the great greife of his good fubiects, proveth fufficiently the famein; for it is very probable and manifeft that they nevir wald have refufit fo great a benefite, except they had thoght themfelves fullie affured of a better, either be favour of Court and affistance within the countrey, or be [concurrance and] aide of ftrangers without. Sevinthlie, Thair refuifall to entir in ward, notwithstanding of his Majefties indignatioun, and all that might follow thervpon, proves the famein. Auchtlie, The late arriveall of this barke at Montrois evidently fhawis, that thair dangerous practifes are prefentlie at the point of executioun aganis the religioun and the countrey, and mon haftilie bring foorth fome great inconvenient, except they be preventit and refiftit be ane present remedie. Nynthlie, The oppin conventiouns of the forfaid excommunicat Erles haldin at Brechin and vther places, fince the arriveall of the faid bark, declares that they efteime thair courfes now to be fo fubftantially led, that they regard not quhat [may] be done for refifting of the fame. 10. The diligence of the faids excommunicats in preparing and putting thair haill forces in the north in armes and readines, vpon advertisement, fhewis that they have fome prefent interpryfe, and attends only vpon concurreance, quhilk appeirandly they are verie meikle animat to looke for fince the arrivall of the said bark. 11. Quheras his Majestie and Estates, at the first discoverie of thair confpiracies, apprehendit a very great danger to true religioun, the Kings Eftate and Crowne, and libertie of the countrey; and notwithstanding that the famein caufe of danger as git remaines haill vnremovit, ther is no apprehenfioun of any danger, nor earnest care to withstand it It is evident, that either ther is ane inclinatioun and purpose to cover, extenuat, and beir foorth the evill caufe, quherthrow they will not fie; or els the Lord in judgement hes blindit and hardnit the hearts of all Estates, to grop in the mid day that quhilk they cannot fie, quhilk is the greatest danger of all, and ane most certaine argument of the wrath of God, and his heavie judgement hingand over the land, and fo meikle the more to be fearit, because ther is no caufe of feare apprehendit. Remedies of the famein. For remedie of the forfaids dangers, the Affemblie ordaines the Commiffioners to deale earnestly with his Majeftie, that he may apprehend the perrill, and be movit with ane bent affectioun, to proceid against the foirnamit excommunicats, Papifts, traittours, as followis. 7. That the haill fubiects be chargeit to put themselves in armes, be all good means they can, remaining in full readines to perfew and defend, as they falbe certified be his Majestie, or vtherwayes findand the occafioun vrgent. 8. That the bark arryvit at Montrois be apprehendit, and that the persons that were within her, togither with fuch [vthers] as hes had a dealing with them, according as they falbe givin vp in tickett, be callit and diligentlie examinit for discoverie of the practises and purpofes quhilk they have prefentlie in hand. 9. Forfameikle as the Lord Hoome hes contraveinit fundrie points, quherin he was oblifchit to the Kirk of Edenburgh be his promife at the receiving of his fubfcriptioun, as, namelie, in not fatiffieing the Affemblie of Fyfe; in not receiving a Minifter in his house; in not removeing out of his companie Captaine Andro Gray and Thomas Tyrie; quherby, [as] alfo be his flanderous lyfe fen his fubfcriptioun, he hes givin juft caufe of fufpicioun to the Kirk and all good men, that in his heart he is not get truelie fanctified and converted to the true religioun: Therfor, that his Majeftie wald take earneft tryall of the premiffes, and therof judge if ther appeir in him fick a To be ready at my charge is very meit; but I vnderstand not the last clause of vrgent occasioun. I sall omitt no diligence in that quhilk can be requyrit at my hands, as I sall ansuer to God. Distingue tempora et concordabis Scripturas. The meaning of this the beirers will expone vnto zou. finceritie of religioun and lyfe as his Majeftie may lippen to, and the Kirk looke for fure freindship in fuch dangerous a tyme, in the caufe of religioun; quhilk not being found, that his Majestie wald remove him fra his companie, and discharge him of all publick office and comandment. 10. That the Guard prefentlie takin vp be tryed, together with thair Captaines, in refpect of many complaints givin in against them to the Affemblie. The complaints belongs not to thair office : Alwayes I have satisfied the beirers heirin. Sic subscribitur, JAMES R. At Edenburgh the 10 of May 1594. The Affemblie gives commiffioun to Mrs Patrick Galloway, Robert Rollock, Patrick Simfone, James Melvill, James Nicolfone, to propone the dangers and remedies above wrytin to his Majeftie, and to report his Majefties anfuers theranent. Sic subscribitur, Mr ANDRO MELVILL, Moderatour. Seffio 11a. 13 Maij. Anent the horrible fuperftitioun vfed in Garioch and diverfe parts of the countrey, in not labouring ane parcell of ground dedicate to the Devill, vnder the name of the Goodmans Craft: The Kirk, for remedie therof, hes found meitt that ane article be formed to the Parliament, that ane act may proceid from the Estates therof, ordaining all perfons, poffeffours of the faids lands, to caufe labour the famein betuixt and ane certane day appointit therto; vtherwayes, in cace of diffobedience, the faids lands to fall in the Kings hands, to be difponit to fuch perfons as pleafes his Majeftie, quho will labour the famein. |