"A. Erle of Ergyle.
"Glencarne.
"Morton.
"Archibald Lord of Lorne.
"Johnne Erskyne of Doun."
Et cetera.
The first Heads for the Government of the Reformed Kirk.
Immediately after the subscription of this foresaid Bond, the Lords and Barons professing Christ Jesus convened frequently in counsel; when these Heads were concluded:—
First, it is thought expedient, devised, and ordained, that in all parishes of this realm the common prayers be read, weekly on Sunday, and on the other festival days, publicly in the parish kirks, with the lessons of the New and Old Testament, conform to the order of the Book of Common Prayers: and, if the curates of the parishes be qualified, to cause them to read the same; and, if they be not, or if they refuse, that the most qualified in the parish use and read the same.
Secondly, it is thought necessary that doctrine, preaching, and interpretation of Scriptures be had and used privately in quiet houses, without great conventions of the people thereto, until afterwards God move the Prince to grant public preaching by faithful and true ministers.
The Earl of Argyll promotes the Cause of the Reformed Kirk.
These two heads concerning the religion and some others concerning the policy being concluded, the old Earl of Argyll, took the maintenance of John Douglas, caused him to preach publicly in his house, and reformed many things according to his counsel. Divers others took the same boldness within towns as well as to landward; and this did not a little trouble the bishops and Queen Regent.... Shortly after this, God in His mercy called the said Earl of Argyll from the miseries of this life. The bishops were glad; for they thought that their great enemy was taken out of the way; but God disappointed them. For the said Earl departed most firmly adhering to the true faith of Jesus Christ, with a plain renunciation of all impiety, superstition, and idolatry; and in his testament he directed his son to study to set forward the public and true preaching of the Evangel of Jesus Christ, and to suppress all superstition and idolatry, to the uttermost of his power.
The Bishops make a feeble Show of Reformation.
The bishops continued in their Provincial Council. That they might give some show to the people that they proponed reformation, they spread abroad a rumour of this, and published a printed manifesto, which the people dubbed "The Twa-penny Faith." Amongst the Acts of the Council, there was much ado (1) for caps, shaven crowns, tippets, long gowns, and such other trifles: (2) That none should enjoy office or benefice ecclesiastical, except a priest: (3) That no Kirk-man should nourish his own bairns in his own company; but that every one should hold the children of others: (4) That none should put his own son in his own benefice: (5) That, if any were found in open adultery, for the first fault, he should lose the third of his benefice; for the second crime, the half; and for the third, the whole benefice. The Bishop of Moray, and other prelates, appealed against these Acts, saying that they would abide by the Canon law. And this might they well enough do, so long as they remained interpreters, dispensers, makers, and disannullers of that law....
The Regent practises for Grant of the Crown-matrimonial to the King of France.