1636.—October 18.
2. Letter from the King to Spottiswood, Archbishop of St Andrew’s, Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and Chancellor in Council and Session.[26]
Charles Rˣ,
Right Reuerend Father in God, &c. quher as, since our entrie to the croune, especially since our laite being in that kingdome, wee haue diuersse tymes recommendit to the archbischopes and bischopes ther, the publishing of ane publicke forme of seruice in the worschipe of God, quhilke wee wold haue vniformally obserued therin, and the same being now condescendit wpone, that wee doubte not bot all our subiects, both clergie and others, will receaue the samen with suche reuerence as aperteinethe; zet thinking it necessarey to make oure pleassure knowen tuoching the authorisinge the booke therof, we requyre you to command, by opin proclamatione, all our subiectes, both ecclesiasticall and ciuill, to conforme themselues in the practisse therof, it being the onlie forme of worschipe quhilk wee, hauing takin the counsaill of our cleargie, thinke fitt to be wssed in Gods publicke worschipe ther. As also, we requyre you to inioyne all archbischopes, bischopes and wthers, presbiters and churchemen, to take caire the samen be deulie obserued, and the contraweiners condinglie censured and punished, and to giue order that eurey paroche procure to themselues, within suche ane space as you shall be pleassed to appoynt, tuo at the least of the saides bookes of comon prayer for the wsse of the said paroche, quherin ze will doe ws most acceptable seruice; and for the quhilk thesse presents shall be your warrant. Wee bid you fairweell, from our courte at Newuarke, 18 Octobris, 1636.
1636.—December 20.
3. Act anent the Seruice Booke.[27]
Apud Edinburgh, 20 Decembris 1636. Sederunt.
| Chancellor. | Angus. | Clerk-Regʳ. |
| Thesaurer. | Binning. | Advocat. |
| Glasgow. | Napier. | Justice-Clerk. |
| Dumfrees. | Depute Treasʳ. |
Forsamekle as the King’s Maiestie euer since his entrie to the imperiall goverment of this his ancient Kingdome, especiallie since his late being their, hes diverse times recommendit to the Archbishops and Bishops their, the publishing of a publict forme of service in the worship of God, whiche his Maiestie would haue vniformelie observed in this kingdome; and the same being now condescended upon, although his Maiestie doubts not bot all his Maiesties subjects both clergie and others, will receave the said publict forme of seruice with such reuerence as appertaineth; butt his Maiestie thinking it necessair to make his pleasure knowen twiching the authorizing the booke thairof; Therefore the Lords of his Maiesties Privie Counsell, according to his Maiesties speciall warrand and direction, ordains letters to be direct, to command and charge all his Maiesties subjects, both ecclesiasticall and civill, be open proclamation at the Mercat Croses of the heid burrowes of this kingdome and other places needfull, to conforme themselffs to the said publict forme, qˡᵏ is the onlie forme qˡᵏ his Maiestie, having takin the Counsell of his Cleargie, thinkes fitt to be used in Gods publict worship heir: Commanding heirby, all Archbishops and bishops, and others presbyters and churchemen, to take a speciall care, that the said publict forme of worship be dewlie obserued and obeyed, and the contraveaners condinglie censured and punished, and to have a speciall care that euerie Parish betwixt and pasche next, procure unto thameselffs twa at the least of the saids bookes of Common Prayer, for the use of the Parish.
Followes his Maiesties Missive for warrant of the Act abouwritten.
CHARLES Rˣ.
Right Reuerend father in God, right trustie and weill belouit Cousins and Counsellors, right trustie and trustie and belouit Counsellors, We greit you weill. Whereas since our entrie to the crowne, especiallie since our late being in that Kingdome, we have diuerse times recommended to the Archbishops and bishops there, the publishing of a publict forme of seruice in the worship of God, whiche we would haue vniformelie obserued therein; and the same being now condescended vpon, thogh we doubt not bot all our subjects, both clergie and others, will receaue the same with such reuerence as appertaineth: yitt thinking it necessarie to make our pleasure knowne, tuiching the authorizing of the booke thaireof, We require you to command, by opin proclamation, all our subjects, both ecclesiasticall and cevill, to conforme thamselffes in the practise thairof, It being the onlie forme which We, having takin the Counsell of our Clergie, thinke fitt to be used in God’s publict worship there; as alsua we require you to injoyne all Archbishops and Bishops, and other Presbyters and churchemen, to take care, that the same be dewlie obeyed, and the contraueaners condignlie censured and punished, and to take order that euerie parish procure to thameselffes, within such a space as yow shall thinke fitt to appoint, two at least of the saids bookes of Common Prayer for the use of the Parish; wherein you will doe us most acceptable seruice, and for which these shall be your warrant. We bid yow farewell, from our Court at New Mercat, 12 of October 1636.