Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 107 – Letter 111
October 8. 1633. His Majesties Articles concerning His Chappell in Scotland. And his Letter to Command Obedience.
Charles R.
OUr expresse Will and pleasure is, That the Deane of Our Chappell that now is, and his Successors shall bee assistant to the Right Reverend Father in God, the Arch-bishop of Saint Andrewes, at the Coronation, so often as it shall happen.
That the Booke of the forme of Our Coronation lately used, be put in a little Box, and layd into a Standard, and committed to the care of the Deane of the Chappell successively.
That there be prayers twice a day with the Quire as well in Our absence as otherwise, according to the English Lyturgie, till some course bee taken for making one that may fit the customes and constitutions of that Church.
That the Deane of the Chappell locke carefully, that all that receive the blissed Sacrament there receive it kneeling, and that there be a Communion held in that Our Chappell the first Sunday of every monethmonth.
That the Deane of Our Chappell that now is, and so successively come duly thither to prayers upon Sundayes, and such Holy Dayes as that Church observes, in his whites, and preach so, when ever he preacheth there. And that he bee not absent from thence, but upon necessary occasion of his Diocesse, or otherwise, according to the course of his preferment.
That these orders shall be Our warrant to the Deane of Our Chappell, that the Lords of our Privie Councell, the Lords of the Session, the Advocate, Clarkes, Writers to the Sgnett and Members of Our Colledge of Iustice, bee Commanded to receive the holy Communion once every yeare, at the least in that Our Chappell Royall, and kneeling, for example sake to the Kingdome, And we likewise command the Deane aforesaid to make report yearely to us, how we are obeyed therein, and by whom, as also if any man shall refuse, in what manner he doth so and why.
That the Copes which are*Note. consecrated to Our use be delivered to the Deane to be kept upon Inventory by him, and in a Standard provided for that purpose, and to be used at the Celebration of the Sacrament in Our Chappell Royall.
To these Orders we shall here after adde others, if we find others more necessary for the regulating of the Service of God there: At White-Hall the eight day of October 1633. Sic subscribitur.
STERLING. Superscribed by His Majestie.
Charles R.
REverend Father in God, trusty and well beloved Councellour, Wee Greet you well, wee have thought good; for better ordering of Divine Service, to bee performed in Our Chappell Royall there, to set down some Articles under our own hand to be observed therein, which wee send you here inclosed, And it is Our speciall pleasure, that you see every thing carefully performed, according as wee have directed, by these our enclosed Articles, And likewise that you certifie, to the Lords of Our privie Councell, If any of those appointed by Our former Letters to them to Communicate in Our Chappell Royall, shall not accordingly performe the same, to the effect such order may be taken by our Councell therein, as by our said former Letters to them, we did appoint, wherein expecting your diligence and care, We bid you Farewell,
From Our Court at White-Hall, the 8th day of Octo. 1633.
To set on this designe the better, the Archbishop procured this warrant from the King to himselfe (written with his own Secretaries hand Master Dell, and I doubt not but procured since the Scottish troubles to helpe him at a dead lift, if questioned) to hold correspondency with the Bishop of Dunblane in Scotland: he had caused the King to signe the former instructions for his Chapell there, and now he will be sure ex post facto, to get a warrant for it though dated foure dayes after them.
Charles R.
CAnterbury, I require you to hold a correspondency with the Bishop of Dunblane, the present Deane of Our Chappell Royall in Edenburgh, that so from time to time, he may receive Our Directions by you for the ordering of such things as concerne Our service in the said Chappell.
October 12. 1633,
After this the Arch-Bishop writ diverse Letters to Bishop Balentine to promote this designe of his: as namely one dated, Ian. 13. 1633. To let His Majesty receive a Note who those be that conformed, and who not, for I see His Majesty is resolved to goe on constantly, Another May 6. 1633. informing him of his missing the Bishopricke of Edenburgh, for his omission of prayers in the Chapell according to the English Lyturgy, &c and exhorting him to be carefull, for the future. Another in Iuly 1634. Wherin he tells this Bishop, that his excuse for not reading prayers (as aforesaid) was not satisfactory; to wit, that the singing men could not come for debt for that the prayers might have beene read by his Lordships Chaplaine: That he did well to acquaint the Lords with His Majesties resolution concerning the Communion there. Another Octo. 4. 1634. To like purpose, and concerning the payment of the Singing mens wages. Another Ian. 12. 1634. Giving him thankes for his Resolution about ordering the Kings Chappell, and wearing his Whites, &c. and promising to speake to my Lord Traquair, about Edward Helly. Another Febr. 28. 1634. Containing, Thankes from the King for the solemnitie of the late Communion, and expressing his hopes, that the other Bishops were in their Whites as well as he, that the envy of the uulgar might not fall only on him. That he had shewed His Majesty the paper of those of the Session as did not conforme at the Communion. That he had done what he could for the Gentlemen of the Chappell, but the times required patience, &c.
On the 28. of Septemb. 1634. The Arch-Bishop caused the King to signe a common prayer Booke, for the use of the Church of Scotland; and gave order to the Bishops of Scotland, to compile certaine Canons for the Government of the Church of Scotland, which Lyturgie and Canons were to be imposed on that Church by Regall and Episcopall Authority, without consent of Parliament, or of a generall Assembly; the Bishops of Scotland, not long after, gave him a particular account of their proceedings herein (with thanks for his many favours to them and assistance of them) in this ensuing Letter, thus endorsed with his owne hand.
Recep. Aprill 12. 1635.
From my Lord of Saint Andrewes, and other Bishops about the Scottish Liturgie and CANONS.
May it please Your Grace;
VVE have put our Brother the Bishop of Rosse to the paines of a wet journey for ayding the Lyturgie, and Canons of the Church, and as we have found Your Graces favour, both to our Church in Generall, and our selves in divers particulars, for which we are Your Graces debters, so we are to entreate the continuance thereof in this, and our common affaires. We all wish a full conformity in the Churches; but Your Grace knoweth, that this must be the worke of time. We have made, blessed bee God, a further progresse, then all have here expected in many yeares, by His Majesties favour, and Your Graces helpe: and hope still to goe further, if it shall please God, to continue Your Grace in health and life, for which we pray continually. And so remitting all things to our Brothers relation, we take Our leave,
Your Graces affectionate Brothers and Servants, Saint Andrew: Glasgow. 10: B. of Moray. Ad: B. of Dublane. Tho: Brochine. Dated 2. Aprill 1635.
On May 19. 1635. The Archbishop writ a Letter of thankes to Bishop Balentine for his forwardnesse in this service: informing him; That the King was well pleased with the conformity at the last reception of the Sacrament: That he was glad the Church businesse there, was in so faire a way, &c. That His Majesty had given him the Bishopricke of Aberdeen, and expected his Residence there; and care of that University: August 7. 1635. He writ to him, that the King is well pleased, with the solemnity of the Sacrament, and that the Bishops were in forme. That he expects that all that receive there, doe it kneeling, and in forme; and that every one of the Session doe it once a yeare at least, and that therefore he and his Successor make a list of the names which performe, or not, &c. After this he writ a Letter into Scotland to the Archbishop of Saint Andrewes, dated November, 10th. 1635. which I find thus indorsed with his owne hand.