The
Act
of
the
generall
Assembly
in
Scotland
for
the
abolishing
of
Bishops
in
that
Kingdome
.
THe
Kings
Majestie
having
declared
,
that
it
is
his
Royall
will
and
pleasure
,
that
all
questions
about
Religion
and
and
matters
ecclesiasticall
,
be
detetmined
by
the
Church
:
having
also
by
publique
Proclamation
indicted
this
free
Nationall
Assembly
,
for
setling
the
present
distractions
of
this
Church
;
and
for
establishing
a
perfect
peace
,
against
such
divisious
and
discords
,
as
have
been
sore
displeasing
to
his
Majestie
,
and
grievous
to
all
his
Majesties
good
subjects
,
And
now
his
Majesties
Commissioner
Iohn
E.
of
Traquair
,
instructed
and
authorized
with●s
full
Commission
,
being
present
and
sitting
in
this
Assembly
,
now
fully
conveened
and
orderly
constitute
,
in
all
the
members
thereof
,
according
to
the
order
of
this
Church
,
having
at
large
declared
his
Majesties
xeal
to
the
reformed
Religion
;
and
his
Koyall
care
,
and
tender
affection
to
this
Church
;
(
where
his
Majestie
had
both
his
Birth
and
Baptisme
)
his
great
displeasure
at
the
manifold
distractions
and
divisions
of
this
Church
and
Kingdome
,
and
his
desire
to
have
all
our
wounds
perfectly
cured
,
with
a
faire
and
fatherly
hand
.
And
although
in
the
way
approved
by
this
Church
,
tryall
hath
bin
taken
in
former
Assemblies
before
from
the
Church
Registers
to
our
full
satisfaction
.
Yet
the
Commissioner
making
a
particular
inquirie
,
from
the
Members
of
the
Assembly
now
solemnly
conveened
concerning
the
reall
and
true
causes
,
of
so
many
and
great
evils
at
this
time
past
,
and
so
sore
troubling
the
peace
of
the
Church
and
Kingdome
.
It
was
represented
to
his
Majesties
Commissioner
by
this
Assembly
,
that
besides
many
other
,
the
main
and
most
materiall
causes
were
.
Reasons
from
the
Assembly
for
the
change
of
Church-government
.
1
THe
pressing
of
this
Church
by
Prelates
with
a
Service-book
,
or
Book
of
Common-Prayer
,
without
direction
or
warrant
ftom
the
Church
,
and
containing
besides
the
popish
frame
thereof
,
divers
popish
errors
and
Ceremonies
;
and
the
seeds
of
manifold
grosse
superstitions
and
Idolatrie
:
with
a
Book
of
Canons
,
without
warrant
or
direction
from
the
generall
assembly
,
establishing
a
tyrannicall
power
over
the
Church
in
the
person
of
Bishop
;
and
overthrowing
the
whole
discipline
and
government
of
the
Church
by
assemblies
:
with
a
Book
of
consecration
and
Ordination
,
without
warrant
of
authority
civill
or
ecclesiasticall
,
appointing
offices
in
the
house
of
God
,
which
are
not
wa●ranted
by
the
word
of
God
,
and
repugnant
to
the
Discipline
and
Acts
of
our
Church
:
with
the
Commissicn
erected
without
the
consent
of
the
Church
,
subverting
the
Jurisdiction
and
ordinarie
Judicatories
of
this
Church
;
and
giving
to
persons
meerly
Ecclesiasticall
the
power
of
both
Swords
;
and
to
persons
meerly
civill
,
the
power
of
the
Keyes
and
Church
Censures
.
2.
A
second
cause
was
the
Articles
of
Perth
.
viz.
Observation
of
Festivall
dayes
,
kneeling
at
the
Communion
,
Confirmation
,
Administration
of
the
Sacraments
in
private
places
,
which
were
brought
in
by
a
civill
Assembly
;
and
are
contrary
to
the
confession
of
faith
1590
as
it
was
meant
and
subscribed
in
Anno.
1580.
and
divers
times
since
to
the
order
and
constitution
of
this
Church
.
3.
A
third
cause
was
,
the
change
of
the
Government
of
the
Church
,
from
the
Assemblies
of
the
Church
to
the
persons
of
Church-men
,
usurping
the
priority
and
power
over
their
brethren
by
the
way
,
and
under
the
name
of
Episcopall
government
against
the
confession
▪
Anno.
1580.
Against
the
order
set
down
in
the
book
of
policy
,
and
against
the
intentions
and
Constitutions
of
this
Church
from
the
beginning
.
4.
A
fourth
cause
was
the
civill
places
and
power
of
Church
men
,
their
sitting
in
Session
;
Counsell
,
and
Exchequer
,
their
ridding
,
sitting
and
voting
in
Parliament
;
and
their
sitting
in
the
Bench
as
Justices
of
Peace
,
which
according
to
the
constitutions
of
the
Church
are
incompatible
with
their
spirituall
function
,
do
tend
to
the
hindrance
of
the
Ministry
.
A
fifth
cause
was
,
the
keeping
and
authorizing
of
corrupt
Assemblies
at
Linlithgow
1606.
1608.
at
Glasgow
1610.
at
Aberdene
1616.
at
S.
Andrews
1617.
at
Perth
1618.
which
are
all
null
and
unlawful
,
as
being
called
and
constitute
quite
contrary
to
the
order
and
constitutions
of
this
Church
received
&
practised
ever
since
the
reformation
of
Religion
,
&
labouring
to
introduce
innovations
in
this
Church
,
against
the
order
&
religion
established
.
A
sixt
cause
was
,
the
want
of
lawfull
and
free
generall
Assemblies
,
rightly
constitute
of
Pastors
,
Doctors
and
Elders
yeerly
or
oftner
pro
re
nata
,
according
to
the
liberty
of
this
Church
,
expressed
in
the
Book
of
Policy
,
and
acknowledged
in
the
Act
of
Parliament
1592.
Which
his
Majesties
Commissioner
having
heard
patiently
;
and
examined
particularly
;
all
objections
to
the
contrary
being
answered
to
the
full
.
The
whole
Assembly
with
expresse
consent
of
his
Majesties
Commissioner
,
in
one
heart
and
voice
did
declare
,
that
these
and
such
other
proceedings
,
from
the
neglect
and
breach
of
the
Nationall
Covenant
of
this
Church
&
Kingdom
made
in
An.
1580.
have
been
indeed
the
true
and
main
cause
of
all
our
evils
and
distractions
;
and
therefore
ordains
,
according
to
the
constitutions
of
the
generall
Assemblies
of
this
Church
,
and
upon
the
grounds
respective
above-specified
,
that
the
foresaid
Service-Booke
,
Book
of
Canons
and
Ordination
,
and
High
Commission
be
rejected
still
▪
that
the
Articles
of
Perth
be
no
more
practised
:
that
Episcopall
government
and
the
civill
places
and
power
of
Church-men
be
holden
still
as
unlawfull
in
this
Church
:
that
the
above-named
pretended
Assemblies
at
Linlithgow
1606
▪
1608.
at
Glasgow
1610.
an
Aberden
1616.
at
S.
Andrews
1617.
at
Perth
1618.
be
hereafter
accounted
as
null
and
of
none
effect
;
and
that
for
preservation
of
Religion
,
and
preventing
all
such
evils
in
time
coming
,
Generall
Assemblies
rightly
constitute
,
as
the
perfect
and
compent
Judge
of
all
matters
Ecclesiasticall
hereafter
be
kept
yeerly
,
and
oftener
,
as
occasion
and
necessity
shall
require
,
the
necessity
being
first
remonstrate
to
his
Majesty
by
humble
supplication
;
as
also
of
these
occasionall
Assemblies
,
that
Church-Sessions
,
Presbyteries
,
and
Synodall
Assemblies
,
constitute
and
ordained
according
to
the
Book
of
Policies
,
and
constitutions
of
this
Church
,
be
also
hereafter
kept
as
occasion
and
necessity
shall
require
.
The
Heads
of
the
Bill
in
Parliament
for
abolishing
of
Bishops
in
ENGLAND
.
WHereas
the
government
of
the
Church
of
England
by
Archbishops
,
Bishops
,
Chancellours
and
Commissaries
,
Deanes
,
Archdeacons
,
and
other
their
Ecclesiasticall
Officers
,
hath
been
found
by
long
experience
to
be
a
great
impediment
to
the
perfect
reformation
and
growth
of
Religion
,
It
is
therefore
enacted
from
henceforth
there
shall
be
no
Archbishops
,
Bishops
,
&c
,
or
any
their
Officers
within
this
Church
and
Kingdome
:
and
that
if
any
person
shall
take
upon
him
to
exercise
any
such
Office
,
he
shall
incurre
a
Praemunire
according
to
the
Statute
of
16.
Ric
.
2.
And
that
all
Mannors
,
Lands
,
Rectories
,
Impropriations
,
Houses
,
Rents
,
Services
,
and
other
Hereditaments
whatsoever
of
the
said
Archbishops
.
Bishops
,
Deans
,
Deacons
and
Chapters
,
Archdeacons
,
Prebendaries
,
Canons
,
and
Pettie-Canons
,
which
they
or
any
of
them
have
in
the
right
of
the
said
Churches
and
dignities
,
shall
be
disposed
of
and
ordered
in
such
manner
and
form
as
the
Kings
most
excellent
Majesty
,
the
Lords
Temporall
and
Commons
shall
appoint
.
And
it
is
therein
further
enacted
,
that
all
Ecclesiasticall
Iurisdiction
fit
to
be
exercised
in
the
Church
and
Kingdome
of
England
,
shall
be
committed
to
such
a
number
of
persons
,
and
in
such
manner
as
by
this
present
Parliament
shall
be
appointed
.
A
Motion
to
the
House
concerning
Church
Government
.
EVery
severall
Shire
of
England
and
Wales
,
to
be
a
severall
Circuit
or
Diocesse
,
for
the
Eclesiasticall
Iurisdiction
,
excepting
Yorkeshire
,
which
is
to
be
divided
into
three
.
2.
A
constant
Presbyterie
of
twelve
choise
Divines
to
be
selected
in
every
Shire
or
Diocesse
.
3.
A
constant
President
to
be
established
over
this
Presbyterie
.
4.
This
President
in
each
Diocesse
to
ordain
,
suspend
,
deprive
,
degrade
,
Excommunicate
,
by
and
with
the
consent
and
assistance
of
seven
Divines
of
his
Presbytery
then
present
and
not
otherwise
.
5.
The
times
of
ordination
throughout
the
land
to
be
foure
times
every
yeare
,
viz
,
the
first
of
May
,
the
first
of
August
,
the
first
of
November
,
and
the
first
of
February
.
6.
Every
President
constantly
to
reside
within
his
Diocesse
,
in
some
one
prime
or
chiefe
City
or
Towne
with
in
his
Diocesse
,
as
in
particular
.
7.
Every
President
to
have
one
speciall
particular
congregation
,
to
be
chosen
out
of
the
most
convenient
for
distance
of
place
,
from
his
chiefe
residence
,
and
the
richest
in
value
that
may
be
had
,
where
he
shall
duely
preach
unlesse
he
be
lawfully
hindered
,
and
then
he
shall
take
care
that
his
cure
be
well
supplyed
by
another
.
8.
No
President
shall
remove
o●
be
translated
from
the
Presbytery
which
he
shall
first
undertake
.
9.
Vpon
every
death
,
or
other
avoidance
of
a
president
,
the
King
to
grant
a
Conge
d'elire
to
the
whole
Clergy
of
that
Diocesse
,
and
they
to
present
three
of
the
Presbyters
aforesaid
,
and
the
King
to
choose
and
nominate
whom
he
please
of
them
.
10.
The
first
Presbyters
of
every
Shire
to
be
named
by
the
Parliament
,
and
afterwards
upon
the
death
of
any
Presbyter
,
the
remayning
Presbyter
to
chuse
another
out
of
the
Parish
Ministers
of
that
Shire
,
and
this
to
bee
done
within
one
month
after
such
death
or
avoidance
.
11
No
President
or
Clergie-man
to
exercise
or
have
any
Temporall
Office
,
or
secular
employmwnt
,
but
only
,
for
the
present
,
to
hold
and
keepe
the
probate
of
wills
,
untill
the
Parliament
shall
otherwise
resolve
.
12.
The
President
once
a
year
(
at
Midsummer
)
to
summon
a
Diocesan
Synod
,
there
to
heare
and
by
generall
vote
,
to
determine
all
such
matter
of
scandall
in
Life
and
Doctrine
among
the
Clergie-men
,
as
shall
be
presented
unto
them
.
13.
Every
three
yeares
,
a
Nationall
Synod
to
be
,
which
for
persons
shall
consist
of
all
the
Presidents
in
the
Land
and
of
two
Presbiters
to
be
chosen
by
the
rest
out
of
each
Presbitery
,
and
of
two
Clerkes
to
be
chosen
out
of
every
Dioces
,
by
the
Clergie
thereof
.
14.
This
Nationall
Synod
to
make
and
ordaine
Canons
of
the
Governement
of
the
Church
,
but
they
not
to
binde
untill
tey
be
confirmed
by
Parliament
.
15.
Every
President
over
and
above
the
benefice
aforesaid
,
a
certaine
constant
rent
allowed
and
allotted
proportionall
to
the
Diocesse
wherein
he
is
to
officiate
,
that
is
to
say
,
every
Presbyter
to
have
a
constant
yearely
profit
above
his
benefice
.
16.
As
for
the
revenue
of
the
Bishops
,
Deanes
,
and
Chapters
,
&c.
a
strict
survey
to
be
taken
of
all
their
rents
and
profits
,
and
the
same
to
be
represented
at
the
beginning
of
our
next
convention
,
and
in
the
mean
time
no
Lease
to
be
renewed
,
nor
timber
to
be
felled
.
FINIS
.