Fourthly, Seeing the standing of the religione and the welfare of his Majestie’s persone are so inseparablie joynit, as qwhatsumever are enemies to the ane are commone enemies to both; so his Majestie desyres, that through all the Presbytries of this countrie, there shall be some appoyntit to advertise and informe his Majestie heirafter, with diligence, for the mair speedie remedie, not only of qwhatsumever practises they can learne many wayes, of Papists and Spanish factiones, but also of the receipters and practises of Bothwell, qwhereof they can haue any knawledge; Qwhais haill courses, as they are directly against his Majestie’s persone, so whollie they tend to the subversione of the whole religione: with direction also to them to informe also the haill Barrones and honest men maist tenderous of his Majestie’s wellfare to gine ever such faithfull intelligence of the saids practises as they can learne from tyme to tyme.
Fifthly, His Majestie desyres, that through all the countrie, qwhere there is any ports for landing-places, that there be some of the brethren speciallie appoyntit to deall so with the burgesses that they may take good and sufficient tryall according to his Majestie’s law made thereanent, of all those qwho shall hereafter come in, or pass furth of this countrey qwharfra they came, and qwharto they are bound; qwhat is their traffique or intention to doe: And so, after good and sufficient tryell, if there be anything of weight and importance, that they on no wayes faill to make his Majestie acquaint therwithall; to the effect his Majestie may the more easilie discover qwuhatsumever forraigne or civill practises, is or shall be in heid against the present estate of religione: And this he cravit to be done so faithfullie, as he hes good opinione of your earnest affectione, no lesse in the preservation of his Majestie’s awne persone as in the defence of the common cause; as also he promises to assist and aide yow in all and qwhatsumever your good resolutiones, that may tend to the furderance of peace and quyetness; with the advancement and maintainance of the religion presently professit in this realme.
Humble Answers of the Generall Assemblie to the Articles proponit be his Majestie’s Commissioners to the same, at Dundie, the 27th of Aprylle.
First, The Article concernyng the conveining of the said Generall Assemblie is agreit unto, according to the tenor of the act of Parliament presentit with the saids Articles.
As touching the 2d Article, It is ordaynit be the haill Kirk, that no minister within this realme utter from pulpitt any rashe or unreverent speeches againes his Majestie or Councill, or their proceedings; but that all their public admonitiones proceed upon just and necessar causes and sufficient warrant, in all fear, love and reverence, under the paine of deposeing such as does in the contrare, from their functione and office in the ministrie.
As to the 3d Article, The Kirk agries therto, and speciallie anent the provisione of ministers ane or mae to his Majestie; that certaine be nominat be the Commissioners direct to his Grace with his advyce, of qwham his Majestie may make choyse: and the brethren to be lykit of his Majestie, to be placit and admittit be the Presbytrie where his Grace shall be resident for the tyme.
As concernyng the 4th and 5th Articles, the samen are condescendit to and order taken, as his Majestie shall be particularly informit be the said Commissioners.
Follows the tenor of the act of Parliament.
[The Act 5th June 1592, 12 James VI. is referred to—Vide Appendix II. [p. 373].]