Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

II. You shall likewise discharge the practice of the Five Articles of Perth, notwithstanding the Act of Parliament, which doth command the same, and in the said Proclamation you shall promise, in Our Name, that if in the first Parliament to be held the three Estates shall think fit to repeal the said Act, We shall then give Our Royal Assent to the said Act of Repeal.

III. You shall likewise declare, that We have enjoyned, and authorized the Lords of Our Privy Council to subscribe the Confession of Faith, and Bond thereto annexed, which was subscribed by Our dear Father, and enjoyned by His Authority in the year 1580. and likewise have enjoyned them to take order, that all our Subjects subscribe the same.

IV. You shall likewise declare, that Our meaning and pleasure is, that none of Our Subjects, whether Ecclesiastical or Civil, shall be exempted from censures and trial of the Parliament, or General Assembly, those Courts proceeding against them in due form and order of law.

V. You shall likewise declare, That we are Graciously content, that the Episcopal Government, already established, shall be limited with such Instructions, as may stand with the Laws of this Church and Kingdom already established.

VI. You shall offer a Pardon by Proclamation, and promise in it a Ratification of the same in Parliament, to all Our good Subjects, who shall rest satisfied with this Our gracious Declaration, and hereafter carry themselves as becomes peaceable and dutiful Subjects.

VII. You shall procure an Act of Council, wherein every Councellour shall declare himself fully satisfied with this our Declaration, and (if you can) they shall moreover solemnly swear and protest to adhere to Us, and with their Lives, Fortunes, and whole Means, assist Us in the punishing and repressing all such as shall be found to be disobedient to Us, or persist in turbulent and unpeaceable Courses; and if any of Our Councellours shall refuse so to doe, you shall presently remove him from the place of a Councellour.

VIII. You shall likewise require every Lord of the Session to subscribe the Confession of Faith abovementioned, and the Bond thereunto annexed; as likewise to make the same Protestation in all things, as in the last Instruction is required of a Councellour: and if they shall refuse to doe it, you shall then certifie to Us the names of such Refusers.

IX. You shall likewise declare, that Our Pleasure is, That a most solemn Fast be indicted upon a set day throughout the whole Kingdom, which shall precede the General Assembly in some competent time. The Causes shall be declared, to beg Gods blessing on that Assembly, to beg of God a peaceable end to the Distractions of this Church and Kingdom, with the aversion of Gods heavy judgement from both. The form of Indiction we desire to be according to the most laudable Custom of this Church in most extraordinary cases.

X. You shall labour as much as in you lieth, that both the Electors, and Persons elected to be Commissioners at the General Assembly, shall be the same that were wont to be in My Fathers time, and the same forms to be observed as near as may be: but yet if that cannot be obtained, it shall be no lett to you from indicting a General Assembly; but you shall go on in it, by all such means, as you shall find to be most advantageous to Me in that Service.

XI. The time and place of the Assembly, (Edinburgh only excepted) We leave to your Judgment and Pleasure.