Then the Rolles were called.
Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—All these Articles being at once dead in this Church, had bein revived and preached again by some unlucky birds, becaus it makes for their purpose; and the more that stuff abounds, it addes the more to the vaine lusture and glorie of their Episcopacie, which had neid of much fairding and learning; and, if so be, we should take them from these falcities and idle toyes, it would befall to them as the Poet said, “Moveat cornicula risum surtious undata coloribus”; and so with heart and affection, I send them, and the revivers of them, both ane way; for they are abjured by the Confession of Faith, and therefore are to be removed.
Moderatour said—I thinke there is no question; but if the question had been made to the Generall Assembly when the Confession of Faith was subscryved, Whither they shall observe Kneilling, Pasche, Zuill, &c., but many would have declaired negativelie; and if ever they had thought that they should have bein introduced upon this Kirk, they would have bein more particular in it, albeit the generall is cleare enough, as it is cleare by the interpretation of the Confession of Faith according to the Acts of the Kirk, that they are abjured, and therefore to be removed. And, truelie, considering the great woe they have brought in this Kirk, we have verie great reason to rejoyce in God, and to give his Majestie heartie thankes that hes brought us to this comfortable conclusion; and ye may see how comfortable a thing it is for brethren to meit togither thus in ane Assembly, whereof we have bein depryved thir many yeares, and that these Articles hath bein the caus of this division. It is notour how many honest and faithfull servands of Christ hes bein put from the ministrie, to verie hard shifts, and are not yet admitted, of whom I thinke notice should now be taken; ffor in all halcion tymes, when sore troubles were blowen over the head of Gods Kirk, there hes bein still notice taken of these whom God made sufferers; and ye know how many of ourselves hes bein threatened to have bein put from our places; and if they had gotten their will, there had bein few honest ministers left in the land; and therefore we have caus to blesse God that we are delivered from these corruptions.
Then there was a letter produced from the Bishop of Cathnes, declairing that the caus of his not coming to the Assembly was his bodilie sicknes and his extreame disease, wherein he acknowledged the lawfulnes of the Assembly, and declaires that willinglie he had subscryved the Covenant; and it was found that he had not subscryvit the Bishops Declinatour.
My Lord Weymes declaired—That he had bein at the Bishop of Glasgow; and he said that the Bishop regrated that he had put his hand to the Declinatour, and told that he had intention to come to the Assembly, but the Commissioner diswaded him; for Declinatour, sayes he, they urgit him with it, and he did it in great suddentie, and repents it; and said he would take his hand from it were it not that it would be disgraceful to him; and when I desyred him to give two lynes under his hand declairing his submission to the Assembly, he said he had not his wittis about him, and desyred the Assembly that he should be dealt with as those who had submitted themselves. And the Assembly answered, that since he was amongst the subscryvers of the Declinatour, he behoved to have his owne place.
[Bishop of Edinburgh.]
Then there was Articles of Accusation given in against Mr David Lindsay, pretendit Bishop of Edinburgh; and he was called upon and his procurator, and his proces red, and probations thereof.
Then Mr Androw Jaffray and Sir John MᶜKenzie declaired that they saw him bow to the altar. Mr Andro Kerr and [George] Dundas saw him dedicat a kirk after the Popishe maner.
Then the Rolles wer called.
Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—He is a violent brecker doune of the hedge whereof I spacke the last day; and, seeing he continowes obstinat, let the sentence of excommunication byte him.