Sessio 7.
Compeirit James Melvill, Gentleman of the King’s Chalmer, and presentit unto the Kirk, his Majesties writting concerning tryall to be taken of certaine words alleadged spoken be Mr Walter Balcanquell in his late sermone against his Heines cousine, Duke of Lennox, with credit to the bearer, who schew that in this far he had credit to speak, that because at the last calling of John Durie and the said Mr Robert before the Privie Counsell, upon accompt of their sermones, offence was taken in the Kirk, therefore his Grace laments the matter to the Assemblie, willing them to try the matter and to putt order therein.
The words wherein the Duke’s Grace is offendit are thir; That the said Mr Walter had spoken in pulpit, that within this four years, Papistrie had enterit in the countrie, not only in the court but in the King’s hall, and maintained be the tyrannie of a great campione, who is callit Grace; and if his Grace vald oppone himself to God’s word, he sould haue little grace. Further, concernyng the Bischope of Glasgow, the King’s Majestie desyrit they sould stay any proceedings against him as bischop; yet if there be any uther thing the Kirk hes to lay to his charge, let them use their order.
Hereunto the said Mr Walter answerit, Seeing in the King’s Majesties letter and credite gine to the bearer thereof, he is accusit,—praying the Moderator to suffer him to give his answer thereto; the sum quhairof schortly shall be this: First, he praisit God that he is not accusit of any thing wherein ather civilie or criminallie in his life or conversatione, he hes offendit the King’s Majestie, or his laws, whereunto with all reverence and all tymes he is readie to submitt himself as effeirs, but is accusit of these things whilk he hes spoken publickly in the pulpit, qwherein he hes been mair plaine in reproveing of vice then sum men can goodlie suffer, qwhilk is a very point of his doctrine; qwhilk, howbeit, he heir there callit open sclander, yet he man so justifie the same, that although all the kings of the earth wald call it erroneous, yet he is ready here be good reasone to prove it to be the very trewth of God; and if neid sall requyre, to seall it with his blood. Secondlie, he praises God for this, that of his last accusation, God hes giuen this meikle victorie to this Kirk, that howbeit then it was callit in questione, to whom the judgement of the doctrine sould appertayne, yet as then be good reasone it was concludit and promised be the King’s Majestie, Counsell, and Commissioners appoyntit therfra, to conferr with the ministers in that matter, That in all tymes cuming the tryall of the ministers’ doctrine sould be referrit to the judgement of the Assemblie of the Kirk, as the only competent judge thereto; so now it is performit, and for that he sies that promise now keepit, he thanks God, and is so meikle the more glad to give his answer before their godlie wisdomes of the Assemblie present, as his competent judges in this matter, and that after this manner. As concernyng these things qwhilks he spake in his sermon the last Wedensday, he spake them not quyetlie, but all his breither and all the haill Assemblie heard them, and so, of all wthers, can best judge of the same. Wherefore, with all reverence, he will submitt himself simply unto their godly judgements, alwayes neither being aschamitt of his doctrine, neither yet being myndit to giue advantage to his enemies, so far as he may, whose purpose he knaws against him in this matter. He will only requyre this conditione,—that the canone of the Apostle Paul be keepit to him, qwhilk is this: Against ane elder receiue no accusatione, but under two or three witnesses; according to the qwhilk forme of proceeding, he craues in this matter here.
Are ye, the Assemblie of the Kirk, as competent judges unto him? Here is he ready before your Wisdomes to answer to all accusationes that sall be layd against him, and underly your judgments therunto. Let any man, therefore, according to the canone of the Apostle, qwhilk on no wayes ye can break, stand up here before yow, and say he hes any thing to accuse the said Walter off, either in lyfe or doctrine, and hes two or thrie witnesses readie with him to prove his accusatione: then the said Walter shall answer him as effeirs; for seeing James Melville heard not his doctrine, and therefore will not take upon him to accuse the said Mr Walter, he will superseid farther answer, qwhill he sie his accuser qwhatsumever, to qwhom be the grace of God he sall be ready to answer as accords.
The Assemblie ordayns Mrs Thomas Smetone and Dauid Fargysone to passe to the King’s Grace with this answer;—That seeing Mr Walter is ane brother in the ministrie, the canon of the Apostle must be keepit unto him; and therefore the accuser, with his two witnesses, ocht to be had. Farther, that in respect of the last calling of John Durie before the Privy Counsell, upon ane compt of certaine words alledgit spoken in his sermone, ordour was taken be certaine Commissioners of Counsell and brether of the Kirk, that in case such accusationes afterwards should fall out in the Kirk, sould haue the judgement thereof; and if the King’s Majestie please to send any Commissioners to be present at tryell, they sould see the proceedings of the Kirk; Therefore desyres his Majestie to send Commissioners to sie this matter tryed, seeing the Kirk is most willing to try the same.
Sessio 9.
Anent the establishing of Presbyteries, the Kirk assemblit hes nominat certaine brether to travell diligently in erection of Presbytries, as they shall be severallie devydit, betwixt and the next Assemblie; and ordayns their brother, Mr James Lawsone, to penne the forme in proceeding in erectione thereof, that the brether being informit of the order, may uniformlie proceed therein. For Falkland, Mrs Walter Balcanquall, Patrick Adamsone, my Lord Rothes, Balvaird and Creich.
Sessio 10.
Articles qwhairof Mr Robert Montgomrie, minister at Striveling, was openlie accusit in the Generall Assemblie, anent his doctrine.