Lastly, The want of preachers in many congregations in this land, so that in ane province thirty-ane kirks are found to be vaickeand, and, in others, some seventeen, as in Nyddesdale, and uthers throw many pairts of the land.
Overtures for remedieing the Causes forsaids.
First, That ane commissione be grantit be his Majestie to the Bischop of every Synod with such well affected noblemen and gentlemen as the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie shall nominat, to apprehend traffiqueing Papists, Jesuites, and Seminarie Priests that does haunt within their bounds, with power to charge the receipters to make open dores and delyver them, under the paine of treasone.
Secondly, That his Majestie be humbly intreatit, that no Papists nor suspect of Papistrie, beare charge in Councill, Sessione, Government of Townes, nor uther Publick Offices; and if there be any in the estate presently quhom his Heines knawes in his awne wisdome, to be men evil affectit towards religione, that his Majestie wold take order therwith.
Thirdly, That his Majestie will give order for executione of his Heines lawes against Papists and traffiquers with all rigour, and that no favour be grantit be any officer of estate without his Majestie’s privitie, under the paines of incurring his Majestie’s hiche displeasure; as also, that the Councill make no impediment to the letters of hornying to discharge the proceeding of Presbytries against the persones forsaids.
Fourthly, That Papists quho ance have been knawne professors of Papistrie, and for eschewing of civill paines or hope of preferment, will abjure their religion, that his Majestie will please to cause inact, that it shall not be lawfull to such to injoy any office or honor in the Commonewealth, notwithstanding of their oath and communicating, untill fyve yeares probatione had been taken of their constancie and sinceritie in professing of the truth.
Fifthly, That the Act made at Bruntiland concerning the sonnes of noblemen and uthers passing to uther countries be considerit and confirmit, quhereof the tenor follows: Item, for eschewing farther evill quhilk might come to the estate of Religione be the evill educatione of the youth furth of the country, it wold be cravit of his Majestie and Secret Counsell, that sic noblemen and uthers as directs ane pedagogue be knawne godly and of good religione, learnit and instructit in the same, and approvit in his religione be the testimoniall of his Presbytrie;—that their remaining furth of the countrey be in places qwher the Religione is presently profest, or at the leist qwhere there is no restraint of the same be the cruelty of inquisitione;—that dureing the tyme of their absence they shall not haunt any idolatrous exercise of religione, and such as hes not the moyen to sustaine ane pedagogue with their sonnes forth of the countrey, that they send them to such pairts quhere there is no restraint of religione; and in caice their sonnes, after their departure out of the countrie, haunt these pairts where the profession of the trew religione is restraint, that they find caution not to intertaine them: And in caice any that passes furth of the countrie imbrace any uther religione then that qwhilk is presently professit within this realme, and this to be ane exceptione against their service of their brives, and at the tyme of admission of any of them to any office or honors; and in caice any of their parents contraveen any of the premisses, that they incurre such paine as his Majestie and Secret Councell shall modifie, and that such as are already out of the countrey either be callit back againe before ane day to be appoyntit be his Majestie and Secret Councell, or else that their parents be subject to the lyke conditiones as is before sett downe, with such other additions to be eikit be his Majestie as his Heines shall think expedient; and in speciall, for better explanatione heirof, that at every service of any man as air to his father or any his predicessors, he be not servit be the Sheriff or any wther ordinar Judge to burgh or land, as air to his father or any of his predicessors, butt the testimony of the Bishop or Moderator of the Presbytrie quhare he dwells, beirand the confession of his faith and integritie of religione presently profest within this realme.
Saxtly, That the sonnes of such noblemen as profess Papistrie be delyverit to the custodie of uther their noble friends that are of religione, to be brought up in the knawledge of the truth.
Seventhly, That the searchers of merchandise brocht hame from beyond sea, be commandit to sease upon all books brocht hame, and put them to be tryit be the ministrie of the Presbytrie unto the quhilk they arryve, and that all book-sellers lykewise doe the same before they make open sale thereof, under the paine of confiscatione.
Auchtlie, That excommunicat Papists, especially such as be of ranke, be apprehendit and put in close ward, and none have accesse unto them except such as are of religione presently profest.