The Generall Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, conveened at Edinburgh the 25th of December 1566, To the Nobilitie of this Realme that professe the Lord Jesus with them, and hes renunced that Roman Antichrist, desyre constancie in faith, and the spirit of righteous judgement.
Seeing that Satan, be all our negligences, (Right Honourable,) hes so far prevailed within this realme of late dayes, that we stand in extream danger not only to losse our temporall possessions, bot also be depryved of the glorious Evangell of Christ Jesus, and so we and our posteritie to be left in damnable darkness, we could no longer contain ourselves nor keep silence, lest in so doing we might be accused as guiltie of the blood of sic as shall perishe for lack of admonishment, as the Prophet threatens. We, therefore, in the fear of our God, and with grief and anguish of heart, complains unto your honors, yea, we must complaine unto God and to all his obedient creatures, That that conjurit enemie of Jesus Christ, and cruell murtherer of our dear brethren, most falsly styled Archbishop of St Andrews, is reponed and restored be signator to his former tyrannie: ffor not only are his ancient jurisdictions (as they are termed) of the haill bishopric of St Andrews granted unto him, but also the execution of judgement, confirmatione of testaments, and donatione of benefices, as more ample in his signator is exprest. If this be not to cure the head of that venemous beast whilk ance within this realme, be the potent hand of God, was so banished and broken downe that be tyranny it could not hurt the faithfull, judge ye. His antient jurisdictione was, that he with certaine his colleagues collateralls, might have damnit of heresie, upon probatione as pleased him, and then to take all that were suspect of heresie heretofore. Ye cannot be ignorant judges whether they remaine in their former malice or not: their states and travells openly declares. The danger may be feared, say ye; but what remedie? It is easie and at hand, Right Honourable, if ye will not betray the cause of God and leave your brethren, whilk never will be more subject to that usurped tyrannie then they will unto the Diuell himselfe. Our Queen belyke is not well informed. She ought not, nor justly may not, breake the lawes of this realme; and so consequently she may not raise up against us, without our consent, that Roman Antichrist againe: ffor in ane lawfull and free Parliament as ever was in the realme before, was that odious beast depryved of all jurisdictione, office, and authority within this realme. Her Majestie, at her first arryvall, and be diverse her proclamations sinsyne, hes expressly forbidden all uther forme and fact of religione then that whilk she fand publickly established at her arryvall: Therefore she may not bring us the greatest part of the subjects of this realme back againe to bondage, till that alse lawfull and alse free ane Parliament as justly damned that Antichrist and his usurped authority have given decision betwixt us and him heirof, and of uther things that no less concerns yourselfes then us, ye plainly and boldly admonishe our Soveraigne, and without tumult only crave justice. The tyrants dare no more be seen in lawful judgement, nor dare the howlats in the day light. Weigh this matter as it is, and ye shall finde it more weighty then to many it appears. Farther, at this present we complain not, but humbly craves of your honors ane reasonable answer, what ye will doe in case that sic tyrants, devowering wolves be given to invade the flock of Jesus Christ within this realme, under what title that ever it be; ffor this we boldly confess, that we will never acknowledge uther pastors to our saules, nor yet judges to our cause; and if that for denyall thereof, we either suffer in body or goods, we doubt not but we have not only ane Judge to punishe them that unjustly trouble us, but also ane Advocat and strong Champion in heaven, to recompense them who for his name sake suffer persecutione, whose Holy Spirit so rule your hearts in his trew fear unto the end. Your Lordships’ answer yet again we crave. Given in the Generall Assembly, and third Session thereof, at Edinburgh, December 27, 1566.
QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS.
Ane certain married man past to the warrs of Denmark about four years since. His wife has joyned her self to ane uther man within this two years in whoredome; now they desire to be married, because they have the attestation of two unsuspect witnesses who spake with Captain Clerk, that her husband was slaine in the Castle of Baronebar in December, upon Pasche day bygane ane year: Quæritur, Whether the parties may be joyned in lawfull marriage or not?
Ordaines the names of the persons to be given up to the Session of the kirk where they dwell, to be accused criminalie for their offences given in tyme of her husband’s lyfe, or before the knawledge of his death, she ioyned her bodie to the uther man, that they both may be punished accordingly.
Ane man forewarned that he might not marry his father’s sister, past in contempt of the kirk, and was married in the Chappel Royal, December 1566. Quæritur, What order shall be taken therewith?
Ordaines to dilate the parties to the Justice Clerk and the Kirk, and to declare their names, that they may be punished.
And further, because diverse persons, alswell women as men, who are separate for adulterie, the partie offendand joynes himself in marriage againe, contrare the law of God, wherethrough great sclander and inconveniences follows; Ordains the Superintendant to admonishe all ministers within their jurisdictiones, that nane joyne any partie separate for adulterie in marriage, under the paine of removeing from the ministrie.
Sessio 4ta, December 28, 1566.
Anent Bishops, Abbots, Priors, and uthers persons beneficed being of the kirk, who receaves teynds, and waites not upon the flock committed to their cure, neither presents themselves to the Generall Assemblie: Ordains all Superintendants to warn all Bishops, Abbots, &c. that receaves teynds within their iurisdictiones, and where no Superintendants are, that the Superintendant nearest send his letter to the minister next adjacent, to summond the forsaids persons to compear at the next Generall Assembly, to give their assistance and counsell to the said Assembly, in sic things as appertaine to the Christian religion and preaching of the true word; and ffarther, to know the ordinance of the kirk to be made thereanent.