First, Becausse the said seruice booke is not warranted by the authority of the generall assemblies, wich is the representatiue kirke of this kingdome, and hath euer since the reformatione giuen directione in matters of Gods worschipe, nor be aney acte of parliament (wich in thinges of this kynd) hath euer beine thought necessarey by his Majesty and estaites.
Secondlie, Becausse the liberties of the trew kirke, and the forme of worschipe and religion receaued at the reformatione, and vniwersally practissed sinsyne, is varranted by actes of generall assemblies, and diuersse actes of parliament, 1567, and of the lait parliament, 1633.
Thridlie, The kirke of Scotland is ane independent kirke, and her auen pastors should be most able to decerne and directe quhat doe best seime our mesour of reformatione, and quhat may serue most for the good of the people.
Fourtlie, It is not wnknowen to your Lordschipes, quhat disputing, diuisione and trouble, hath beine in this kirke aboute some few of the maney ceremonies contined in this booke, wich being examined, as wee shall be redey at a competent tyme assigned by your Lordschipes to shaw, will be found to depairt far from the worschipe and reformatione of this kirke, and in poyntes most materiall for the kirke of Rome, for hir hierarchie and doctrine, superstitione and idolatrie in worschipe, tyranie in gouerniment and in wickednesse, eurey way als antechristian now, as quhen it cam out of her.
Fyftlie, The people hath beine otherwayes taught by ws, and our prædicessors in our places, euer since the reformatione; and so it lickly they will be found, wnwilling to the change quheneuer they be assayed, euen quhen ther pastors are willinge, in respecte quherof the saides letters of horneinge, haill effecte and executione, aught to be simpliciter suspendit in tyme coming.
Deliverance thereon by Council.[35]
The Lords of secret counsaile, wnderstanding that ther hes beine a grate mistaking in the letters and charges giuen out wpone the acte of counsaell made anent the buying of the seruice bookes, The said Lords for removing and clearing of all such simplie declares, that the saide acte and letters extend allainerlie to the buying of the said bookes, and no further. Giuen at Edinbrughe, 25 of Aguste, 1637.
1637.—August 25.
11. Letter from the Privy Council to the King.[36]
Most sacred Souerainge,