Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Lykewyse, upone Sonday the 24 Februar, the Erle of Kynnoull, Mr James Stewart, [George] Drummond, sone to the Laird of Balloch, and Capitane Hall, wer all excommunicat for incuming to Orknay, and troubling that cuntrey in a hostile maner. Quhairof intimation wes also maid in all the Kirkis of Edinburgh, upone Sonday the tent of Marche, 1650.

Eodem die.—Intimatioun wes lykewyse maid that the Erle of Abircorne wes excommunicat for poprie....

It is to be rememberit that in the monethis of Marche and Apryll, 1646, the Directorie for Godis Service began. In steid of evening and morning prayeris, the ministeris taking to thair consideratioun that the not reiding and exponing of the Scriptures at the old accustumat tyme of prayer, was the occasioun of much drinking at that seasoun quhen these prayeris and chaptures wer usuallie red, thairfoir, and to prevent that sin, it wes concludit, in the begynning of Marche, 1650, that all the dayis of the week a lectorie sould be red and exponit in Edinburgh be everie minister thair per vices; quhilk accordinglie wes put in practize, and so began this holie and hevinlie exercise upone Monday the 18 day of Marche, 1650.

At the same tyme, for eschewing and doun bearing of sin and filthines in Edinburgh, it was actit, that no woman sould vent or rin wyne or aill in the tavernis of Edinburgh, bot allanerlie men servandis and boyes; quhilk Act wes red and publictlie intimat in all the Kirkis of Edinburgh, that all such as haid these commoditeis to sell sould prepare men servandis and boyes for that use agane Whitsounday nixt thaireftir following....

Upone the sevint day of Apryle, 1650, thair wes ane solempne Fast throw the haill kingdome of Scotland, as also with our Commissioneris in Holand sent to the Kinges Majestie. The reasones of the fast wes for the synnes of the land, and that it wald pleis the Lord to grant ane happy succes to the Scottis Commissioneris now at a treatie with his Majestie. This fast wes concludit by the Kirk and Stait to be solemlie keipit the said day both heir within this kingdome of Scotland, as lykwayis by our Scots Conimissioneris now at Breda in Holand, befoir thair going af this kingdome.

Ther wer also eikit to the causis of the Fast, the sin of Witchcraft abundant in the land, the incres of Malignantis and Sectareis, that the King may grant the just desyres of Kirk and Kingdome for stedfastnes to this land, and to these quho hes the charge of the effaires of the land for delyverie of the King from malignant counsells, for strenthening of these that suffer for his cause in England and Yreland, for suppleying the necessiteis of the pure, and much mor to this purpos, and all uther synnes mentionat in the last fast, solemplie keipit throw the haill Kirkis upone the last Sonday of August, 1649.

It war langsum to writt quhat outcryingis wer now aganes that noble erle James lait Erle of Montrois, and prented declarationes gevin out aganes him, and proclamationes, both by Parliament, thair Committees, and by the Assemblie of the Kirk.... Such wer the ordores of Parliament and Committee, and prohibitiones of the Kirkes, that nane durst speik in favouris of that nobleman for feir of censure and punischement.

[Nicol then states the case of a man named Bryson, who, when proclamation to the above effect was made at the Cross of Glasgow, “did cry out, and callit him als honest a nobleman as was in this kingdome,” upon which the magistrates “was forcit to tak and apprehend him, and careyed him to Edinburgh by ane gaird of the tounes officers, presented him to the Committee of Stait than sitting thair, quha, be thair ordour, wes cassin in to the theves hoill, quhairin he lay in great miserie by the space of many weekis.”]

At this tyme, and sindry yeiris befoir, many persones wer trublit for not subscryving the Covenant, and ministeris deposit for the same. Mr Gawin Stewart, minister of Dalmellingtoun not onlie deposit fra his ministrie, bot he debarrit ab agendo in all his actiones and causis civill for recovery of his dettis.

Lykewayis James Macaulay, goldsmith, wes not onlie excommunicat for refuising to subscryve the Covenant, bot lykewayis at his death his corps dischargit to be bureyit in the churchyaird.