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tions, hes ratefyt and approvyt Christs Religion; quhilk She fand publickly resaved in this Realme at her Árrivall, and spetially upon the fiftene Daye of September last at Dunde: The Kinge and Queens Majestie, with the Advyse of thair Secreat Counsaill, promiset as well be the Act of Secreat Counsaile, as by divers and sundry Proclamations mad therupon, publickly in the principall Burghis of this Realme, so establish in this present Parliament the Religion of Christ, quhilke thei fand publicklie and univarsally standing at the Arrivall in Scotland; and all Acts, Lawes and Constitutions, Comon, Civill, or Municipiall, prejudiciall to the same, to be abolished and put away, as the said Acts and Proclamations mair fullelye proports. Desiringe thairfore the Premisses to be considered, together with the said Articles, and the Queens Majesties Answers to the same, with the Kirks Replie thareupon as followis.

THE ARTICLES.

Theis are the Articles, which the Nobilitie, Barons, Gentlemen, Burgeosis, and other Professors of Christs Evangell, crave with all Humilitie at the Queens Majestie, and her Honorable Consaile, within this Realme of Scotlande.

Imprimis, That the Papistical and Blasphemos Mas, with all Papistree, Idolatry, and Pope's Jurisdiction, be universallie suppressed and abolished thorowgout this whole Realme, not only in the Subjects, but also in the Queenes Majestie own Person, with Punishment against all Persons, that shall be deprehendet to transgresse and offend in the same: And that the sincere Word off God, and Christs true Religion, nowe presently received, might be established, approved, and ratified throughout thole Realme, aswel in the Queenes Majestie owne Person, as in the Subjects, without any Impedyment: And that the People be astricted to resort, upon the Sondaies at least, to the Praiers and Preaching of Godes Worde, like as they were astricted before to resort to the Idolaters Masse: And theis Heads to be provided by Act off Parliament, with the Consent of the Estates, and Ratifycacion of the Queenes Majestie.

Secondlie, That seur Provision be appoincted for Sustentation of the Mynistrye, aswel for the Tyme present, as for the Tyme to come; and that suche Persons as are publickelie admytted in the Mynistrye, may have there Livings assigned unto them, in the Townes where they travell, or

at the least next adjacent thereto: Aud that they have not occasion to crave the same at the Hands of any others. And that the Benyfices nowe vacant, or that have vaked sithence the Monethe of Marche, Anno 1558, or that hereafter shall happen to vake, be disponed to qualified and learned Persons, able to preche Goddes Worde, and to discharge the Vocation concernynge the Mynysterye, by Tryall, and Admission of the Superintendents: And that no Bishopricke, Abbaty, Priorye, Deaconrye, Provostrye, or enye other Benyfyce having many Churches annexed thereto, be disponed altogether at eny time to come, to eny one Man. But at the least, the Churches thereof be severallye disponed, and to several Persons, so that every Man having Charge may serve at his owne Church, according to his Vocation. And to this Effect, that the Glebbis and Manses be given to the Mynistrye, that they may make Residence at there Churches, wherethrough they may discharge there Conscyences, conform to there Vocation, and also that the Churches may be repaired accordinglie; and that a Lawe be made and established hereupon by Act of Parliament, as said is.

Thirdlie, That none be permytted to have Charge of Scoules, Colledges, or Universities, or yet privatly or publickly instruct the Youth, but such as shall be tryed by the Superintendents, or the Visitors of the Churche, found sound and able in Doctrine, and admitted by them to there Charges.

Fourthlie, For Sustentacion of the Poore, that all Lands founded to Hospitalitie of Old, be restored again to the same Use: And that all Lands, Anuell Rents, or any other Emoluments pertayninge any wayes somtyme to the Friers of whatsoever Ordre they had been of, or Anuall Rents, Altarage, Obits perteoninge to the Priests, be applyit to the Sustentacion of the Poor, and Uphold of Scoles in the Townes, and other Places whear theye lie.

Fifthlie, That all sic horrible Crymies, as now abounds in this Realme, without any Correction, to the great Contempt of God and his Holye Worde, sic as Ydolatry, Blasphemy of Godes Name, manifest brekinge of the Sabath Day, with Wichcraft, Sorcery and Inchantment, Adultery, Incest, manifest Whordome, Mentenance of Bordells, Murther, Slaughter, Reyfe and Spulze, with many other detestable Crymes, may be severely punished; and Judges appointed in every Province or Dioces, for Execution therof, with Power to doe the same, and that by Act of Parliament.

Last, That som Order be devysit and establishit, for the

Ease of the poore Laborers of the Ground, concerninge the reasonable Payment of thair Teynds, and settinge of thair Teyndis to an over yair Heads, without yaire own Advyse and Consent.

The Queen's Majesties Answer to the Articles, presentit to her Highnes by certaine Gentlemen, in the Name of the hall last Assemblie of the Kirke.

To the First, Desiringe the Mass to be suppressed and abolyscht, as well in the Head as Members, with Punyshment against the Contradoenars; as also that Religion now professed to be establisht be Acte of Parliament. It is Answerit, First, for the Part of her Majestie selfe, that hir Highnes is yet na wyse perswadit in the said Religion, not yett that any Impyetie is in the Masse; and therefore beleves that her Lovinge Subjects will noe wayes presse her to receive any Religion agaynst her Conscience: Quilke suld be to her continuall Troble, be remorse of Conscience, and ther through an parpetuall Inquietnes. And to deal plainly with her Subjects, her Majestie neather will, nor may leave the Religion, qucharin she hes ben noryscht, and upbrought, and believes the same to be well grounded; knowinge besides the Grudge of Conscience, gyf she shold receve any change in her owne Religion, that she shold leave the Friendship of the King of France, the Auncient Allia of yis Realme, and of other great Princes hir Frinds and Confederats: Quha wold take the same in Evil Part. And of quhom she may luke for thare great Support in har Necessities; and havefand no other Consederation that may contraven the same, she will be loth to put in hasard the losse of all her Frinds in an instant; praying all her lovynge Subjects, seing they had Experience of hir Goodnes, that she has neither in Tymes by past, nor yet means hearafter to prease the Conscience of any Man, but that they may Worshippe God in sick sort as they ar perswadit to be the best, that they will allwayes notht presse hir toffend hir awne Conscience. As to the Establishment in the Body of the Realme; these your selfis knawis as appears well by your Articles, that the sam can nocht be done, be thonly Consent of hir Majestie, but requires necessarily the Consent of Thre Estates in Parliament. And therefore soe sone as the Parliament halds, that Thing quhilke the Thre Estates agree upon amangst your selfes, hir Majestie shall grant the same unto you. And alwais sall make you suer yat na Man shall be troblit for using your selves in Religion accordinge to your Consciences: So that no Man shall

have Cause to doubt that for Religious Causes Mens Lyves, or Heritags, shall be in haserid.

To the Second Article, That her Majestie thinks it no wayes resonable that she shuld defraud her selfe of sa greate a Parte of the Patrimony of the Crowne, as to put the Patronages of the Benifices, furth of her owne Hands. For her own Necessity, in beringe of her, and Comon Charges, will requyre the Retention of ane Guide Part in her own Hands: Nochtyelles her Majestie is well pleasit that Consideracion being had of hir owne Necessity, and quhat may be sufficient, for the resonable Sustentation of the Ministers, and speciall Assignation be made to you, in Places maist commodius and with the quhilk

her Majestie shall not intromitt, but soffer the same to run to tham.

The Answer of the rest of the Articles is referred to the
Parliament.

The Kirk's Reply to the Queen's Majesties Answers aforesayd.

FIRST, whar her Majestie Answers that she is not perswadit in the Religion; neather that she understands any Impietie in the Masse, bot that the same is well grounded, &c. This is no smale greafe to the Christian Harts of her Godlie Subjects; consideringe that the Trompet of Christ's Evangell hes ben sa lange blawin in this Countrie; and his Mercy as plainly offerit in the same: That her Majestie yet remaynes unperswadit of the Trewth of this our Religion; for our Religion is not ells, but the same Religion quhilke Christ in the last Days revelit, fra the Bossome of his Father: Quharof he mad his Apostells Messengers, and quhilke they preachit and establysht amoungst his Faithfull to continu till gaine coming of the Lord Jesus: Quhilk differs from the Impietie of the Turks, the Blasphemy of the Jewes, and Vaine Superstition of the Papists, in this, that onlie our Religion hes God the Father, his only Sonne our Lord Jesus, his Holy Spirit speakinge in his Prophets and Apostles, for Authors therof: And the Doctrine and Practice for Ground of the same. The quhilk Assurance no other Religion upon the Face of the Yearth can justly alleage, or plainly prove; yea, quatsoever Assurance the Papists hes for their Religion, the same hes the Turk for mayntenance of the Alcarone; and the Jewys far greter for the Defence of their Cerimonies; quihidder it be Antiquity of Tyme, Consent of People, Authority of Princes, grsat number or multitud consent

inge together, or any other sike like Cloks, that they can pretent. And therefore as we are dolorous that her Majestie in this our Religion is not perswadit, so maist reverently wee require in the Name of the Eternal God, that her Highnes wald embrace the Meanes quharby she may be perswadit in the Trewth. Quhilke presently we offer unto her Grace, aswell by Preachinge of his Worde, quhilk is the chiefe Means apointed be God to perswade all the Chosen Children of his infailable Veritie, as be publick Disputacion against the Adversaries of this our Religion descivers of her Majestie whensoever it shall be thought expedient to hir Grace. And as to the Impietie of the Masse, we dare be bauld to affirme, that in that Idoll thare is great Impietie, ye it is na thinge ells but a Messe of Impietie, fra the Beginninge to the Endinge, The Author, or Sayer, the Action it selfe, the Opinion therof conteanit, the Hearers of it, Gasars upon it, avoure it pronouncis Blasphemy, and comytts maist abhomynable Ýdolatry, as we have ever offerit, and yet offer our selves maist manifestly to prove. And quhar hir Majestie estemes that the Change of hir Religion should dissolve the Confederacy and Allyance, that she hes with the Kinge of France, and other Princes, &c.

Assuredly Christ's true Religion is the undowtid Means to knit up surly perfect Confederacy and Friendship, with him that is King of all Kings; and quha hes the Harts of all Princes in his Hands. Quhilk aucht to be more precious unto her Majestie, nor the Confederacy of all the Princes of the Yearth; and without the quhilke, neather Confederacy, Love, or Kindness, can long endure.

Concerning her Majesties Answer to the Second Article, quhar as she thinks yt no ways reasonable to defraud hir selfe of hir Patronage of the Benefices, quhilk her Majestie estemes to be a Portion of hir Patrimony. And that hir Majesty is mindit to retaine an gud Parte of the Benefices in her own Hands to support her Comon Charges: As to the First Point, our Mind is not that hir Majestie, or any other Patrone of this Realme, shuld be defraudit of their just Patronages, but we mean that quhen soever hir Majéstie, or any other Patrone dois present any Personage to any Benefice, that the Parson presently shuld be tryed and examined by the Learned Men of the Kirke, Sic appertaineth, as the Superintendaunts appointit there to. And as the Presentacion of the Benefices appertayne to the Pations, so ought the Collation therof by Lawe and Reason appertayne to the Church; of the quhilke Collation, the Kirk shuld not be defrauded, maire nore the Patrons of