Declaration Concerning the Late Tumults in Scotland, Floating text 18
CHarles, by the grace of God, King of Scotland, England, France, and Ireland, defender of the faith. To Our Lovits, Messengers, Our Sheriffes, in that part conjunctly and severally specially constitute, greeting.
Forsomuch as the cause and occasion of all the distractions which have happened of late both in Church and Common-weale of this Our Kingdome, have proceeded from the conceived feares of innovation of Religion and Lawes: To free all Our good subjects of the least suspition of any intention in Us to innovate any thing, either in Religion or Lawes; and to satisfie not onelyonly their desires, but even their doubts, We have discharged, and by these presents do discharge the Service Booke, Booke of Canons, and High Commission, and the practice of them, or any of them: and by these presents annulls and rescinds all acts of Councell, Proclamations, and other acts and deeds whatsoever, that have been made or published, for establishing them, or any of them, and declares the same to be null, and to have no force nor effect in time comming. And being informed, that the urging of the practice of the five articles of Perth Assembly, hath bred great distraction and division in the Church and State, We have beene graciously pleased to take the same into Our consideration; and for the quiet and peace of Church and State, doe not onelyonly dispense with the practice of the saids Articles, but also discharge, like as by these presents We discharge all and whatsoever persons from urging the practice thereof, upon either Laicke or Ecclesiasticall person whatsoever. And We do hereby free all Our subjects from all censure and paine, whether ecclesiasticall or secular, for not urging, practising, or obeying the same, notwithstanding of any thing contained in the acts of Parliament, or generall Assembly to the contrary. And because it hath beene, to the disgrace of government, disperst and surmized throughout this Our kingdome, that some of Our subjects have exercised such illimited and unwarranted power, and have held themselves eximed from censure and punishment, to which others Our subjects are lyable, We doe by these presents declare, that if any of Our subjects, whether ecclesiasticall or civill, of whatsoever qualitie, title, or degree, have, or shall at any time presume to doe any such act, or assume to themselves any such exemption or power, That they shall, like as by these presents We make and ordaine them to be lyable to the triall and censure of Parliament, generall Assembly, or any other Judicatories competent, according to the nature and qualitie of the offence. And for the free entry of Ministers, that no other oath be administrate unto them then that which is contained in the act of Parliament, And to give Our subjects full assurance, that We never intend to admit of any change or alteration in the true Religion alreadie established and professed in this Our kingdome, And that all Our good people may be fully and clearly satisfied of the realitie of Our intentions towards the maintenance of the truth and integritie of the said Religion, We have thought fit and expedient to injoine and authorize, like as We by these presents doe require and command all the Lords of Our privie Councell, Senatours of the Colledge of Justice, Judges, and Magistrates to burgh and land, and all Our o…her subjects whatsoever, to subscribe and renew the Confession of Faith, subscribed at first by Our deare Father and His houshold, in the yeare of God 1580. Thereafter by persons of all rankes, in the yeare 1581. by ordinance of the Lords of secret Councell, and acts of the generall Assembly. Subscribed againe by all sorts of persons in the yeare 1590. by a new ordinance of Councell at the desire of the generall Assembly, with their generall band of maintenance of the true Religion, and the Kings person. And for that effect We doe require the Lords of Councell to take such course anent the foresaid confession and generall band, that it may be subscribed and renewed throughout the whole kingdome with all possible diligence. And because We will not leave in Our subjects minds the least scruple or doubt of Our royall intentions and reall resolutions, Wee have given warrant to Our Commissioner to indict a free generall Assembly, to be holden at Glasgow the twenty first day of November, in this present yeare 1638. And thereafter a Parliament to be holden at Edinburgh the fifteenth day of May Anno 1639. for settling a perfect peace in the Church and Common-weale of this kingdome. And because it is likely that the disorders and distractions which have happened of late, have beene occasioned through the conceived feares of innovation of Religion and Lawes, and not out of any disloyaltie or disaffection to soveraigntie, We are graciously pleased absolutely to forget what is past, and freely to forgive all by-gones to all such as shall acquiesce to this Our gracious pleasure, and carry themselves peaceably as loyall and dutifull subjects, and shall ratifie and approve the same in Our next ensuing Parliament. And that this Assembly may have the better successe, and more happy conclusion, Our will is, that there be a solemne Fast proclaimed and kept by all Our good subjects of this kingdome, a foureteene dayes before the beginning of the said Assembly: the causes thereof to be a begging a blessing from God upon that Assembly, and a peaceable end to the distractions of this Church and kingdome, with the aversion of Gods heavie judgement from both. And Our pleasure is, that this Fast be kept in the most solemne manner as hath beene in this Church at any time heretofore upon the most extraordinary occasion.
OUR WILL is herefore, and We charge you straightly and command, that incontinent these Our Letters seen, ye passe, and make publication hereof by open proclamation at the market crosses of the head burrowes of this kingdome, where-through none pretend ignorance of the same.
Given at Our Court of Oatlands, the ninth day of September 1638. Per Regem.
AFter this Declaration was proclaimed, the Confession of Faith, as it was at the first commanded by Our Royall Father, as also the band annexed for defence of the Religion now established, and of Our Person and authoritie, with the subscriptions of Our Commissioner and Councell to them both, doe here follow.