The Generall Assembly of the Kirk giues commissione to their brethren, Mrs Patrick Galloway, his Hienes’ minister, Peter Blackburne, and Patrick Simpsone, to give informatione to his Majestie of the evident danger imminent to the Kirk of God, within this realme, according to the instruction giuen unto them, and there withall to present to his Majestie, the humble Articles and Petitions of the Assemblie proponit for removeing of the saids dangers, and to insist with all humilitie and dew reverence for his Majestie’s good answer thereto, to the glory of God, and the comfort of his Kirk, and to report with all good diligence, his Majestie’s answer to the Assembly before they dissolve.
The Dangers qwhilks through the impunitie of the excommunicat Papists, traffiquers with the Spainʒards and wthers enemies of the Religione and Estate are imminent to the trew Religione professit within this countrie, his Majestie’s person, crown, and libertie of this our native countrey.
The samyn dangers, whilk of before by the craftie and pernicious practices of the Jesuites, and malicious, unnaturall, and treasonable conspiracies of the Earles of Huntlie, Erroll, and Angus, with their complices, threatins the subversione of the trew religione and the professors thereof, his Majestie’s crowne and persone, and of this their native countrie to the cruell and merciless Spainʒard, and were at that tyme discovered and apprehended be his Majestie and Estates, and haill bodie of this realme, so evidentlie that nane can pretend ignorance—at this tyme are imminent, more urgent and maire to be feared nor qwhen the danger seemed to be greatest, as may appear by these reasons following:—
First, It is certaine that the Spainʒard qwho, with so great preparationes in the lxxx. and aught year interprized the conquess of this isle, remaines as yet firme of that intentione, and waits only on ane meit occasione to accomplische that his purpose, as it appeares clearly by his continowing in this intertainment of intelligence, and trafficting with the forsaids excommunicats, ever since the dissipation of his navie.
Secundo, The manifest rebellions of the forsaids excommunicats and defections from his Majestie’s obedience, after so evident appearances of their wrack for their manifest treasonable attempts at the Bridge of Die, at Falkland, &c. and the proofe of his Majestie’s obedience and favour toward them in pardoning their forsaids treasones, declares that their malicious and restless ingynes in the prosecuting of their unnaturall conspiracies against the religion and countrie, cannot leave off nor cease so long as they are not punischit, nor restrainit by justice and execution of justice.
Thirdlie, Qwhereas the Kirk, on all occasions, hes insistit to declair to his Majestie, Counsell and Estates, the dangers evident for the tyme, and to craue convenient remedies thereunto, yet in effect nothing hes been obteinit, notwithstanding whatsumever promises, acts, proclamations, reads, &c. Qwhairthrow they have bein alwayes put in great securitie, and taks libertie and boldness of farther practises and attempts.
Fourthlie, Notwithstanding it was expressly provydit be act of Counsell, that nane should presume to traffique nor speak in favours of the saids excommunicats, under the payne of tynsell of their offices; yet now they are advancit in greater credite of his Majestie that are knowne to have been their chiefest favourers, and they ceise not as yet, contrare to their promises, to procure them all favour, sicht and immunitie, as it appeares in the effect, qwhatsoever they pretend.
Fifthlie, The erection of the idolatrie of the Masse in diverse quarters of the land, as, namely, in Mr Walter Lyndsay’s house of Balgay, in Angus—in the young Laird of Bonnytonne’s house Barnes—in the Earle of Angus’ houses of Bothwell and Clidesdaill, and in the places of his residence in Douglasdaill—in the Earle of Huntlie’s house of Strabogy and Auld Aberdeene—in the Earle of Arroll’s houses of Logyamont and Slaines,—proves clearly that either they finde themselves sufficiently assurit of such favour and assistance within the countrey, as may plainly mentaine their cause be force, or else that they are persuaded of the aide of strangers, to be in such readiness as in dew time may serve for their reliefe, before that his Majestie and professors of religion performe any thing in effect in the contrair, or wtherwayes they durst never so openly disclose their idolatrie.
Sixthlie, The refuseing the act of abolitione offerit to them be his Majestie, to the great griefe of his subjects, proveth sufficiently the samen; for it is very probable and manifest that they wald never have refused so great ane benefite, except they had thought themselves fullie assured of ane better, either be favour of Court and assistance within the countrey, or be concurrance had of strangers without.
Seventhlie, Their refuseall to entir in ward, notwithstanding of his Majestie’s indignatione, and all that might follow therupon, proves the same.