Petition 1 - Page 2

from the Scotch Rebellion to the King's Murther. 15
1639

clamation and charge of Horning, whereby we are driven in such straits as we
must either by Process of Excommunication and Horning suffer the ruin of
our estates and fortunes, or else by breach of our Covenant with God, and for-
saking the way of true Religion, fall under the wrath of God, which unto us is
more grievous than death. Wherefore we being persuaded that these their
proceedings are contrary to our gracious Sovereign's pious intention, who out
of His zeal and Princely care of the preservation of true Religion established
in His ancient Kingdom, hath ratified the same in His Highnes's Par-
liament, 1633. And so His Majesty to be highly wronged by the said Pre-
lates, who have so far abused their credit with so good a King, as thus to in-
snare His Subjects, rend our Church, undermine Religion in Doctrine, Sacra-
ments and Discipline, move discontent between the King and His Subjects,
and discord between Subject and Subject, contrary to several Acts of Parlia-
ment : We out of bound duty to God, our King and native Countrey, complain
of the foresaid Prelates, humbly craving, that this matter may be put to
tryal, and these our parties taken order with according to the Laws of the
Realm; and that they be not suffered to sit any more as Judges, until the cause
be tryed and decided according to Justice. And if this shall seem to be to you
a matter of higher importance than you will condescend unto, before His Ma-
jesty be acquainted therewith, Then we humbly supplicate that this our grie-
vance and complaint may be fully represented to His Majesty, that from the
influence of His Gracious Soveraignty Justice these wrongs may be re-
dressed, and we have the happiness to enjoy the Religion, as it hath been re-
formed in this Land.

In this Petition it is observable. First, They complain of the mangling
the English Service-book, and wronging the blessed intention of the Re-
formers, whereeas in their Sermons they inveighed against that Service-
Book as Popish and Superstitious, and as if the first Reformers never fully
departed from Rome. Next to swell their Grievances, they added their
dislike of the Canons. The Occasion of which Book was this, His Ma-
jesty intending to settle Uniformity in Government, for which in Scotland
there were no certain Rules, so that neither Clergy or Laity knew the ones
power of the others practice, in regard their Acts of Assemblies being only
written were by many Transcripts become various, uncertain, and to many
unknown ; His Majesty therefore reduced those numerous Acts to a few,
certain, and to be publickly known to all : and yet this furthering their
knowledge and facilitating their obedience, was esteemed a most grievous
burthen.

These Petitions were sent to His Majesty, who resolved to delay His
Answer till the Authors of the Tumult might be found out and justly
punished : and in the Interim put out a Proclamation signifying his de-
testation of Popery and Superstition, with the contrary suggestions wherof
the Heads of the Faction had abused both His Majesty and Susbjects.

Apud Linlithgow, Decemb 7, 1637

For as much as the King's Majesty, having seen the Petition presented to the
Lords of His Majesties Privy Council, and by them sent up to His Ma-
jesty concerning the Service-Book, determined to have taken the same into His
Royal consideration, and to have given His gracious Answer thereanent with
all conveniency : Like as His Majesty by His Letters to His Council of the
date of the ninth of October last, did signifie His gracious resolution to the
effect