Sacriledge in all estates, without any conscience, growing continuallie mair and mair, to the utter undoeing of the Kirk and staying of the planting of the gospell—cruell oppression of the poore tennents, qwhareby the haill commons of the countrie are utterly wrackit, be the extream dear setting of their rowmes, and halding out of their cornes by untymous teinding and extream thraldome in services.
Oppression under pretext of law, be usurie and be contracts against law—forstalling of mercats—ane regrateing be gentlemen burgesses and commons, qwhairby the pryces of victuall is marvelouslie raised, to the great hurt of the poore, and suchlyke girnelling of victualls, and withholding of them from the mercats, and not threshing them out in due tyme.
Ane great number of idle persones without lawfull calling;—as pypers, fidlers, songsters, sorners, pleasants, strong beggars living in harlotrie and having their children not baptized, without all kinde of repairing to the word.
Offences in the Court and Judgement Seat.
Universall neglect of justice both in civill and criminall causes;—as, namely, in granting of remissions and respites for blood,—adulteries and incests,—no execution of good lawes made against vyces, or in favour of the Kirk, and in civill matters,—the judges, for the maist pairt, unmeit, either in respect of the want of knawledge or conscience, or both; and when any office vaikes, the warst men advancit thereto, both in high and inferiour rowmes.
No executione made against the adherents of the detected enemies, and the enemies themselves, nor imploying of their livings to the use of the resisting of the enemies, qwhairby the enemies are rather beneficit nor hatit.
The odious murder of Dunibristle not punisched.
In Parliaments, sacrilegious persones, as Abbots, Pryors, Dum Bischopes, voteing in name of the Kirk, contrare to the lawes of the countrie, whereby the cause of the Kirk is damnified.
The Session is chairgit with buying of pleyes, delaying of justice and bryberie, qwhilk is evident be extraordinar and sudden conquests.
Grieves to be humbly meanit to his Majestie, in name of the Generall Assemblie, be thair Commissioners, touching the principall Offences in the Estate of the Countrie, that be his Majestie’s Counsell and authoritie sufficient remedie in tyme may be provyded thereunto.