3. That it may please your Majestie, according to your accustomed clemency, to relax presently the ministers of Edinburgh from the horne, and suffer them peaceablie to returne and remain within this realme; as also to relieve and sett at freedome sic gentlemen and professors of religione as now are under challenge, seeing your Majestie knawes that the love of religione moved them to these things qwherwith they now are burthened.
4. That sieing that Edinburgh hes that honour to be the chief burgh of this countrie, and now are both destitute of their own ministers, and sicklyke callit from tyme to tyme before your Majestie, qwhilk is no small grief to their hearts, in respect your Majestie knawes that the greatest pairt of the haill towne are most willing to giue your Majestie all obedience, and to hazard lyfe and substance for your Majestie’s standing, that it may please your Majestie favourably to deall with them according to your accustomed gentleness, that it may appeare your Majestie is more inclynit to shaw favour unto men that meanes uprightlie to your hienes nor to papists, We are moveit to crave the same, that all your subjects may see a generall agriement—That it may please your Majestie, sieing Mr David Black hes obeyit such things as was injoynit unto him, to give him libertie to returne to his flock, and sicklyke to Mr John Welsche and to Mr John Howisone.
Because diverse complaynts of hurting and mutilating of ministers are given in before us, namely—
We most humbly crave that your Majestie wald take some substantiall order for punisching the offenders in example of all wthers hereafter.
That provisione be made for planting of kirks, and that the augmentationes and planting of new kirks, made in anno 1595, be allowit.
Followes his Majestie’s Answers to the saids Articles.
The first is granted in substance. The 2d is also granted. As to the 3d, concerning the ministers of Edinburgh, they are ordayned to be relaxed upon cautione to be found be them to the Justice Clark, that they shall underly the law. As to the gentlemen for whom the Assemblie makes request, his Majestie thinks good that they, be the mediation of their friends, be suiters for themselves. As to the 4. touching the Towne of Edinburgh, his Majestie will nowayes trouble innocent men, but such only as are guiltie, and mindes schortlie to be at a poynt with them. Touching the invasion of the ministers, ane commissione is ordaynit to be directit for calling and punisching the offenders. Concerning the last article, his Majestie ordaynes the thesaurer, Mr James Elphingstone, the Clerk Register, Mr John Prestone and Mr Edward Bruce, to take order, alsewell for the planting of kirks as with the augmentationes qwhilks were grantit anno 1595.