[THIRTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveened at Edinburgh, in the Nether Tolbooth thereof, the 25th of Junii 1567: In the whilk were present, the Earles, Lords, Barrons, Superintendants, Ministers, and Commissioners of Towns. The invocation of God’s name was made be Mr John Craig, Minister of Edinburgh.
Sessio 1ma, Junii 25, 1567.
For eschewing of confusion in reasoning, the whole Assembly present named Mr George Buchanan, Principal of St Leonard’s Colledge, in St Andrew’s Colledge, Moderator dureing this Convention, who accepted the charge hac vice. The Kirk appointed the Lairds of Dun and Bargany to pass to the Lords of Secret Council, and to require their Lordships to conveen and concurr with the kirk presently assembled for hearing of sic articles as shall be thought good for establishing of God’s word, the trew religion, and supporting of the ministers within the realm.
Sessio 2da, Junii 26, 1567.
Forswameikle as it is thought good be all the brethren presently conveened, That ane Assembly Generall be appointed againe to conveene the 26th day of July nixt to come, in this towne of Edinburgh, for setting forward of sic things as shall at that tyme be proponed; and for that purpose, Ordaines to write Missives to all and sundrie earles, lords, barrons, and uthers brethren, requeisting them to conveen the said day; and to that effect, appointed all commissioners to present the said missives, and require, according to their commissions.
Tenor of the Letters Missive sent to the said Earles, Lords, Barrons, and Commendators of Abbays, follows:—
My Lord, (or Worshipfull Sir,) after our most hearty commendationes of service in the Lord Jesus: Having now of lang tyme travelled both in publick and private with all the estates, craving of your honors in speciall, that the course of the evangell of salvation, now ance of the liberall mercy of God restored to this realme, might continue to all your comfort and your posterities; and that for the maintainance and furtherance thereof, and perfyte policie and full liberty, might be granted to this reformed kirk within Scotland; the ministrie, the poor and failzied provided for sufficiently, as God, good policy, and civill lawes, ordaines and requires, and that all superstition, idolatrie, and the monuments thereof, might be utterly removed and banished out of the realme, whilk God of his infinite mercy hes so lovingly called from darkness to light. This matter, indeed, was lyked of all men, but sic impediments gave the enemie of the kirk, in his members, to stay the good work of God, that moyen could there nane be had; but be contrare, at every light occasione the ministrie frustrate of all life and sustenatione, the lamed and impotent members of Christ lying in the strait of dying, perishing for hunger and cold—yea, and the haill flock of Christ Jesus within this realme continuallie threatened with the execution of that most cruell decreet of the late Councill of Trent, wherin was determined and decreeted to make ane sacrifice of the haill professors within all Europe, be the tyrannie of that Romane Antichrist. We are not ignorant how far the samen was attempted be way of deed within the realme of France, how farr now in Flanders and the parts near adjacent thereto, and also what practising to that effect hes been continually thir three years bypast, and even now, of late dayes within our own bowells, be our common conspired enemies, alsweill within as without this realme; how they went to their enterprize, if God had not of his meere mercy prevented, beyond all our knowledge and expectation, their cruell and crafty practises: Upon the whilk consideration, the Assembly, at this present Conventione of the Kirk, accustomed at the course of tyme occurrand, hes found it needfull and expedient to repare the decay and ruine of the kirk so vertuouslie begune amongst us, be ane universall concurrence and consent of the haill professors of Christ Jesus within this realme, and be the same meanes to evite the foresaid danger hingand over our heads, proceeding from the craft of our implacable enemies, alswell within as without the same; and to that effect hes ordained ane Generall Assembly of the haill professors of all estates and degrees, within the Kirk of Scotland, to be holden within the town of Edinburgh, upon the 20th day of the next moneth of July, whereby ane perpetuall order may be taken for the liberty of the Kirk of God, sustentation of the ministers, and failzied members thereof, and that ane sure union and conjunctione may be had for the liberty of God’s Kirk, whereby we may be able to withstand the rage of violence of our foresaid enemies: And because it has pleased the goodness of God so to move your lordship’s heart, that ye are become ane notable instrument and minister of his kirk, as our hope is, so shall our prayer be, that ye may continue increasing from vertue to vertue, unto life everlasting. We thought it our duty, in name of our haill brethren here conveened, to notify to your lordship the foresaid appointment of the said Assembly, and in the name of the Eternall, our God, to recommend to your care and solicitude the building of this ruinous house of God within this realme; requireing also, in His name, that ye will give your personall presence, labours, and concurrences to that effect, as in the foresaid Assembly to be holden the said day; that the haill body may be comforted be the presence and good advyce of so notor ane member thereof: And because we doubt nothing but your lordship shall be present, showing so long experience of your good part in all tymes past, we cease to trouble you with longer letter, referring the rest to be declared be our brethren the commissioners of the kirk, who, to this effect, are direct to your lordship and uthers our brethren in these parts; and we, for our part, with earnest prayer before God, shall pray to augment in you his love and fear, and bless your lordship, to the comfort of his kirk. Amen. From Edinburgh, the 26th of Junii 1567.