Besides all these faults, the said Master David Lyndsey with his Colleagues respective, in his life and conversation is slandered constantly as guiltie of excessive drinking, whoring, playing at Cards and Dice, swearing, profane speaking, excessive gaming, profaning of the Sabbath, contempt of the publike ordinances and private familie-exercises, mocking of the power of preaching, prayer, and spirituall conference, and sincere professors; besides, with briberie, simonie, selling of Commissariots places, lies, perjuries, dishonest dealing in civill bargaines, abusing of their vassals, and of Adulterie, and Incest, with many other offences, of which we shall give the particulars in our particular accusations.
Whereas the Presbyterie is the ordinarie judicatorie of this Church for trying of these offences, and hath the Ecclesiasticall power for cytation of the parties and offenders, with the reference to their complaints to the Generall Assemblie, Therefore wee most earnestly and humblie beseech your godly wisdomes, as you tender the glory of God, the peace and libertie of this Church, the removall of scandals, and punishment of vice, that you will take into your consideration and triall the foresaid many and hainous offences, with the particular reservations and qualifications of them, which we shall present to your wisdomes, or to the Assemblie when it shall be thought convenient; and that you would either take order with it your selves, and censure the offenders, according to the nature of the offences, with the Ecclesiasticall paines contained in the Acts and foresaid Canons of this Church and Kingdome, or else make a reference of them to the Generall Assemblie to bee holden at Glasgow 21. Novemb. and, that the knowledge of these should come to the Delinquents, that you will be pleased to ordaine the publishing hereof, to bee made by all the Brethren of the Presbyterie in their Pulpits upon the Sabbath before noone, with a publike admonition to the offenders to be present at the Assemblie, to answer to this complaint, and to undergo the censure and triall of it, and to bring with them the books and scroules of subscriptions and oaths required from those who enter into the Ministerie, with the books of the High Commission Court, and the books of the Generall Assemblie, which they or their Clerk had or have fraudulently conveied away, Together with this certification, That if the said Master David Lyndsey, with his foresaid colleagues respective, do not appeare in the said Assemblie, and bring with them the said books, to answer to this complaint in generall, and to the particular heads of it, and to submit himselfe to the triall and proofe of this complaint generall, and to the particular heads of it, that there shall be a condigne censure of these offenders for their contempt and contumacie; Here wee humblie beseech your wisdomes answer.
The Act of the Presbyterie of Edinburgh 24. Octob. 1638. yeares, in answer to this Complaint.
Upon the said day, we the Brethren of the Presbyterie of Edinburgh, after we had received this Bill and complaint, presented unto us by the Laird of Buchanan, The Laird of Dury the younger, The Laird of Carlourie, John Smith late Bailife of Edinburgh, John Hammiltoun, and Richard Maxwel, in name of the Noblemen, Barons, Burgesses, and Commons, subscribers of the Covenant (which are not Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie) against the pretended Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdome, and after wee had read and seriously considered the same, wee, according to the desire of the complainers, did and do referre the same to the next Generall Assemblie to bee holden at Glasgow 21. November. And wee ordaine the publishing of this complaint, and of our reference of it to the Assemblie, to be fully read by all the Pastors of the Presbyterie upon the next Sabbath before noone out of their Pulpits, with a publike warning and cytation to the offendants complained upon; By name, Master John Spotswood pretended Archbishop of Saint Andrewes, Master Patrick Lyndsey pretended Archbishop of Glasgow, Master Thomas Sydserfe pretended Bishop of Galloway, Master David Lyndsey pretended Bishop of Edinburgh, Master Alexander Lyndsey pretended Bishop of Dunkeld, Master Adam Bannatine pretended Bishop of Aberdene, Master John Gutherie pretended Bishop of Murray, Master John Maxwel pretended Bishop of Rosse, Master George Greme pretended Bishop of Orknay, Master John Abernethie pretended Bishop of Caithness, Master Walter Whitefoord pretended Bishop of Brichen, Master James Wedderburne pretended Bishop of Dumblane, Master James Fayrley pretended Bishop of Argyle, Master Nail Campbell pretended Bishop of the Isles, to be present at the said Assemblie, to answer to this complaint in generall, and to the particular heads of it, to undergo the triall and censure of it, and to bring with them the books and scroules of the subscriptions and oaths of them who enter into the Ministerie, the books of the High Commission, and the book of the Generall Assemblie, which they either had or have fraudulently put away; and if any Pastor within this Presbyterie refuse to publish this cytation, we require the Reader of the Church to do it. In like manner wee require all parties who have interest, either in pursuing, or specifying, or proving this complaint, to be present at the said Assemblie for that purpose; Upon which the complainers took instruments in the hands of the Notarie.
According to this complaint, and the warrand of the Presbyteries reference of it, I A. R. warne and admonish the abovenamed offenders to compeere before the next Generall Assemblie to bee holden at Glasgow 21. November, for the causes contained in the complaint, and for the certification expressed in it.
1638.—October.
84. Notice from Tables to Members of Assembly.[109]
1. That all Noblemen subscribers of the Covenant (except the Noblemen of the West, who shall be ready upon advertisement) meet at Edinburgh the 12. of November, and stay there till they goe to Glasgow, where they shall all meet on Saturday the 17. of November at the furthest.
2. That the full number of these who are appointed Commissioners by the severall shires, to attend this common cause, with foure Gentlemen within the bounds of every Presbyterie at the least, out of the number of their Assessors, without excluding any voluntaries, That they come to Glasgow the 17. day of November, to attend constantly the Assembly, and give their advice in the common cause to the ruling Elders, Commissioners to the Assembly out of these Shires and Presbyteries.