Читать книгу The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland - Various - Страница 22

Table of Contents

The Generall Assembly of the Kirk conveened in Edinburgh within the Over Tolbooth thereof, the 25th day of February 1568(9), In the quhilk were assemblit the Superintendants, Ministers, and Commissioners of Townes, Kirks, and Universities.

As for eschewing of confusione in reasoning among the brethren convenit, presently, with ane voyce was present chosen Mr David Lindsay to be Moderator for this present Assembly.

Sess. 2^a. Februarii 26, 1568(9).

The haill brethren conveint and assembled thocht meit that ane supplication be presentit to the Supreame Magistrate anent sic persons as hes receavit their benefices in Papistrie, payand now allanarlie their thrids, thinkand themselves therethrough dischargit of all further cure in the Kirk; Requireing at his Grace what order shall be tane anent sic persones. Item, Qwhidder it be lawfull to ane minister of God’s word having benefice, to sett tacks thereof to any particular persone within the parochine or without the same, and if ane law shall be made, that no minister shall sett his benefice to any particular persone.

Item, Ane supplicatione to be made be the Regent’s Grace for reductione of all benefices gine to any persone contrare the act of Parliament or Secret Councill, grantit in fauours of the kirk, or ministers of the same.

The same day, Mr Andrew Blackhall, minister of Ormistoune, was accusit be the Commissioners of the towne of Edinburgh for marrying of ane callit James Hamilton, indwaller of the towne of Edinburgh, with ane Janet Hunter in Ormistoune, without letters testimonialls of their bands proclaiming: againes the qwhilk James, the Kirk of Edinburgh had something to lay for offences committit. After all defences made be the said Mr Andrew, the haill Kirk finds him to have broken the act, That no ministers shall marry the parochiners of ane uther parochine without ane sufficient testimoniall, and so guiltie of the paines contanit therein; not the less the Commissioners and ministers of the towne of Edinburgh made supplication to the haill Assembly that the rigour of the act should not strike upon him, but that some satisfaction should be made to the kirk of Edinburgh at the discretioune of the haill kirk: Whilk supplication the haill brethren acceptit, and ordained that the said Mr Andrew shall compeir before the Sessione of the kirk of Edinburgh on Thursday next to come, and there confess his awne offence, desyreing pardone thereof, with promise of never to offend in sic sort heirafter, under the paines containt in the said act, to be execute to the rigor thereof.

Sess. 4^a. Marche 7, 1568 [9.]

Tenor of the Letter sent be the Duke of Chatlherault his Grace, to the Generall Assembly.

Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, through Jesus Christ, we wische to you.

Brethren, We thocht it expedient to certifie yow that being in France, and hearing the great troubles in this our native countrey, of conscience and dewtie was compellit to come home, desyreous to helpe to pacifie the same at our utter power: First to the glory of God Almightie, and next to the relief of the right sair and lamentable oppressed trew subjects, quhais innocent blood and innumerable heirschips, oppressiones, wrongs and slewths that hes been committit, and daily is upon them, is to us so grievous and intollerable a burden both in conscience and honor, that we refuse not only this our native realme, but also the hale warld or it were not reformit; and albeit in my absence I have sustained wrong, I assure my owne particular naither in blood, lands, nor gear, is so heavie to me as the great danger this haill kingdome stands intill, giue be the grace of Almighty God, and help of the old and natiue Scotts blood, it be not foreseen and relieved in tyme. Heiring of your Conventione, brethren, at this tyme, I have send this bearer to you to declare this to be our full and determinit minde to follow be the grace of God; First, That the word of God may have free passage through this haill realme, and that the sacraments may be ministrat according to the institutione of Christ Jesus his Sone our Saviour: Next, That every true subject of this realme may live without feare upon that whilk is justly his owne, according to God’s calling and commandement. In this cause of this present diversitie of our native Soveraigne and ane pairt of her subjects, ffor the qwhilk we are very heartilie sorrie, and as Almightie God knawes innocent of foirknawledge of any thing, so we would wische all uthers to be the lyke. Our desyre is, that all hostilitie and troubles might be pacified according to the command of God, and that the haill Estates in quiet and peaceable manner may continew, and first calling for his grace and Holy Spirite of righteous judgement, might consider the ground and beginning of this altogidder evill deid, I meane the slaughter of the Queen’s late husband, what hes proceedet thereupon sinsyne, and what God wald of reasone sould be done therefore; and this to be devysed either be the haill estates or 25 of the wysist of the nobilitie chosen be the haill, and to be followit be the whole people of the realme, whereunto we of the nobilitie and all that continews under our obedience to the Queen our Soveraigne, sall for God’s and for the commone weall be found agreeable. I avoyde the wrougous judgement may be spoken that we wreit this to yow because of proclamations that the Earle of Murray hes made in diverse shyres of this realme, to have the people in Glasgow the 10. of March: We would ye should consider we doe it not for that cause: ffor first as ye knaw sen before thir troubles begane we have never been in this countrie before the 25. of this instant Februarii, wherethrough we might haue shawen our minde herein, and all the people of Scotland war gathered together, both for nativeness of blood and for good deserving of my forbears and my selffe, thairs the strenth of the world quhilk I could wishe myself and find me maist sure; and giue the said Earle of Morray wold take upon him to invade me or any of my friends or dependars, or any trew man of this realme, (as I cannot think he will,) then trust I, that the nobilitie or people will not assist him thereto, whill first they finde ane cause worthy, and be declared be the antient lawes of the realme: And though we desyre thir conventions and forces of men of war to be turnit upon the thiefes and oppressors of the realme; whereunto we shall be most ready with our bodies and gear to doe the devoure of noble and trew men; yet, giue he will persevere to persew us, we doubt not in God and the justice of our cause, to finde all the noble and trew men so favourable to us, that it shall not be in his power to doe us wrong upon particular malice, altogether without deserving. Therefore, we require you in God’s behalfe to make some of our affaires and mynde patent unto the people, and giue ye finde not on our pairt socht here, and offerit that our Christiane professione dewlie requireth, that ye come and reasone the same with us, where ye shall finde us reasonable in all causes according to God’s word and equitie, on qwhaies divyne protectione we committ you. Off Hamiltoune, the 27th of February.

Your Christiane Brother,

James Hamiltoune.

After reading of the said letter, the brethren being advysit thereupon answerit to the bearer of the letter, That the Kirk would send some of the brethren to my Lord Regent’s Grace to knaw his pleasure, whidder they should wreit or send ane certaine of the Kirk with Commissione frae the same to my Lord Duke’s Grace, schawing and declareing the opinione of the Kirk touching his Grace’s letter. As for that same, the haill Kirk gaue Commissione to the brethren, Mrs. John Spottiswood, John Wynrhame, and John Row, to passe to my Lord Regent’s Grace, and knaw his pleasure touching the said letter, and thereafter to passe according to his Grace command, to my Lord Duke’s Grace, and conferr with him and uthers of the nobilitie whom they find present, and be all means possible to reconcile the nobilitie forsaid to the obedience of the King’s Majestie and his Regent; and farder to doe as the said Commission proports.

Sess. 5^a. March 8, 1568(9).

It was concludeit be the haill brethren assemblit, that an generall fasting be proclaimit throughout all Scotland, and to begin in Lawthiane, Fyfe, and sic uther places as may receiue advertisement, the 13th day of this instant. Thereafter, the Superintendants and Commissioners of provinces to advertise and begine at sic tymes as they think expedient, and to continow from the first day to that day aucht dayes inclusive; and in the meane tyme to use the exercise accustomed in the Kirk of the first institutione, and als to use sobrietie in eating and drinking in tyme of the exercise.

Moreover, concludeit that all Superintendants and Commissioners of provinces shall hereafter institute and use the same order of fasting, so oft as just occasione shall serve and sall seem meit be their godlie wisdome, without any farther appointment by the Generall Assemblie.

That remedie may be provydit against the oppressione of the Earle of Huntlie and of uthers, who hes deposit the Collectors of the Kirk, and tyrannouslie placit their owne.

That it may please his Grace and the Secret Councill that the Kirk from admonitione may passe to farther censures against the said Earle and all uthers guiltie of the lyke oppression, unto publick excommunication, in case of his and their contempt.

That the Kirk, without offence of his Majestie, may appoint their brother Mr Robert Pont where that his labours may be more fruitfull than they can be for this present in Morray.

That order may be taken that sic odious crymes as this day provoks God’s displeasure against the haill land, may be punished as God hes commanded: giue his Grace send us to the Justice Clerk, experience hes teached us sufficientlie what he hes done in any sic matters.

The Kirk requyres that aines the jurisdiction thereof may be separate from that whilk is civill.

That the questione of adulterie may once take effect; at leist a decisione in that heid—whether the adulterer shall be admittit to the benefite of marriage or not.