The Duke of Lennox answerit to the breither that was sent to him concernyng the mayntayning of Mr Robert Montgomrie, was first a interrogator,—Whither the King or the Kirk were superiors? And, thereafter, that he had command of the King to maintayne him, and of his Counsellors; and, qwhill he were contramandit be him, he wald not remove him.
The Kirk having considerit his answer, Ordaynes the brethren of the ministrie that gangs in commissione to Perth, as they sie occasione there, and the grieff not remedied, touching his maintaining of the said Mr Robert, To proceid and appoynt speciall men, that sall proceed farther against him with the censures of the Kirk, according to the acts of the Generall Assemblie, to qwham the Kirk gives their full power to that effect.
The Generall Assembly, in ane voyce, Gives their full power and commissione to the Right Honourable and their belovit breither John Erskine of Dune, the ministers of the King’s Majestie’s houss, Mrs Robert Pont, James Lawsone, Thomas Smetoune, Andrew Hay, David Lyndsay, Andrew Polwart, Peter Blackurne, Patrick Galloway, William Chrystesone, David Fargysone, Andrew Melvill, Thomas Buchanan, John Braid, Patrick Gillespie, John Porterfield, ministers, and Mr Andrew Melvill, to repare towards the King’s Majestie and Councill to be conveint at Perth, the saxt day of July nixt, and there, with all dew obedience, reverence, and submissione, present to his Heines and Nobilitie the speciall greives of the Kirk, conceavit and gine to them in wreit; and in their behalfs, lament, deplore, and regraite the same unto his Majestie and Councill; craving, in the name and fear of the Eternall God, the same and every ane of them to be repairit and redrest, to the glory of God, and wellfare of his Majestie, and comfort of his Kirk: And thereupon, if need be, with humilitie to conferr, informe, and reasone; and qwhat herein beis done, to report to the nixt Assemblie:—firme and stable haldand and for to hald whatsoever their brethren in the premisses righteously does.
Sessio 7.
The tenor of the Grieves of the Kirk, above specified:
Unto your Majestie, humblie meanes and schawes your Grace’s faithfull and obedient subjects, ministers of God’s word within your Grace’s realme, conveint in the Generall Assemblie halden at Edinburgh, the 27th of Junii; That whereupon the occasione of diverse great and evident dangers appearing to the haill Kirk of God and professors of his trew Religione in this countrie, finding the authoritie of the Kirk abrogat, the censures thereof contemnit, and violence usit against some of the brethren, without punischment thereof, the lyke hes neither been seen in this realme, nor any uther where the truth of the Gospel hes been preachit and receavit; and fearing least your Majestie, for lake of informatione, neglect in tyme to provide remedie for the inconvenients lykelie to insew thereupon, We conveint ourselves in the fear of God and your Heines obedience; and after diligent consideratione of this present estate of the Kirk, and enormities fallen furth in the same, with commone consent thocht necessare our Commissioners to present and open to your Grace certain or chiefe and weightie grieves, without hastie redress qwhairof the Kirk of God and trew Religion cannot stand in this your Grace’s countrie; that your Majestie, be advyce of some Counsellors, is taught to take upon your Grace that spiritual power and authoritie qwhilk properly belongis to Christ as only King and head of the Kirk, the ministrie and execution thereof to such as bear office in the ecclesiasticall government of the same; so that in your Grace’s persone, some men preases to erect ane new Popedome, as though your Majestie could not be full King and head of this commonwealth, unless alsewell the spirituall as temporall sword be put in your hand—unless Christ be bereft of his authoritie, and the twa jurisdictions confoundit, qwhilk God hes devydit, qwhilk directly tends to the wrack of all trew religione, as be the speciall heads following is manifest:—
1. For benefices are gine be absolute power to unworthie persones intrustit in the office of the ministrie, without the Kirk’s admissione, directly against the laws of God and acts of Parliament; quhairthrowgh the Kirk’s livings comes in profane men’s hands and uthers, that sells their sauls, and makes schipwrack of conscience, for pleasure of men, and obtayning some worldly commoditie.
2. Elderschips, Synodall and Generall Assemblies, are dischargit be letters of horning to proceed against manifest offendars, and to use the discipline of the Kirk, and censures thereof, according to God’s word.
3. John Durie, be act of Counsell, is suspendit from preaching; and for this same cause is banisched from his flock.
4. Excommunicat persones, in contempt of God and his Kirk, are intertayned in chieff Lords’ houses, namely, Mr Robert Montgomrie, authorized and caused to preach, and brought to your Majestie’s presence, qwhilk is a sore wound to the conscience of them that loves your Majestie, and knawes your Grace’s up-bringing, and ane heavy sclander in all nationes professing the trew religione.