Act for censuring the complyers with the publike enemies of this Kirk and Kingdom.
THE Generall Assembly taking to their serious consideration the great and scandalous provocation and grievous defection from the publike Cause, which some have beene guiltie of, by complying with the Rebels the publike enemies of this Kirk and Kingdom: And judging it a dutie incumbent to them to bring such notorious offenders to publike satisfaction, that the wrath of God may be averted, and the publike scandall removed; Do therefore Require, Decern, and Ordain, that such as after lawfull tryall shall be found to have been in actuall Rebellion and to have carried charge with the Rebels, To have accepted Commissions for raising Horse or Foot unto them, To have been seducers of others to joyn in that Rebellion, To be the Penners or contrivers of James Grahames Proclamation for indicting a pretended Parliament, or of any other his Proclamations or Declarations, To have beene prime Instruments in causing publish the said Proclamations and Declarations; That all and every one of such offenders shall humbly acknowledge their offence upon their knees, first before the Presbyterie, and thereafter before the Congregation upon a Sabbath, in some place before the Pulpit; And in the mean time that they be suspended from the Lords Supper: And in case they do not satisfie in manner foresaid, that they be processed with Excommunication. And likewise Ordains, that such as shall be found to have procured Protections from the Rebels, To have execute their orders, To have invited them to their houses, To have given them intelligence, To have drank James Grahames health, or to be guilty of any other such grosse degrees of complyance, shall acknowledge their offences publikely before the Congregation, and be suspended from the Communion ay and while they doe the same. And further Decernes and Ordains, that all persons in any Ecclesiastick office guilty of any degrees of complyance before mentioned, shall be suspended from their office and all exercise thereof, for such time as the quality of the offence and condition of the offenders shall be found to deserve; And the Assembly hereby declares, that Presbyteries have a latitude and liberty to agreadge the censures above specified, according to the degrees and circumstances of the offences; And gives in like manner the same latitude and liberty to the Commissioners of this Assembly for publike affairs, who have also power to try and censure the offenders in manner above exprest, and to take account of the diligence of Presbyteries thereintill.
Act concerning Iames Grahams Proclamation.
THE Generall Assembly having considered a copie of a Proclamation published by order of that excommunicat Traitor James Graham, for indicting of a pretended Parliament, and finding the same to be full of blasphemies against the Solemn League and Covenant of the three Kingdoms, and of vile aspersions of Treason, Rebellion, and Sedition, most falsly and impudently imputed to the Estates, and most faithfull and loyall Subjects of this Kingdome: Doe therfore declare, That such as have bin prime Instruments of the publishing of that or the like Proclamation and Declaration, deserve the highest censures of the Kirk, unlesse they make humble confession of their offence publikely, in such manner as is prescribed by this Assembly; And humbly Recommends to the Committee of Estates to take some course for their exemplary civill punishment, and that some publike note of ignominie be put upon that Proclamation as their Honors shall think meet.
18 Junii, 1646. Ante Meridiem. Sess. Ult.
Act against loosing of Ships and Barks upon the Lords Day.
THE Generall Assembly understanding how much the Lords day is profaned by Skippers and other Seafaring men, Do therefore discharge and inhibite all Skippers and Sailers to begin any voyage on the Lords day, or to loose any Ships, Barks or Boats out of Harbery or Road upon that day, And who shall doe in the contrary hereof, shall be censured as profaners of the Sabbath: Recommending to Presbyteries and others whom it may concerne to see both the Acts of Assembly and Parliament made for censuring and punishing profanation of the Lords day, to be put in execution against them.