His Majesties proclamation in Scotland: with an explanation of the meaning of the Oath and Covenant. By the Lord Marquesse, his Majesties high commissioner. Set forth by the Kings speciall licence — Proclamations. 1638-12-08

His Majesties proclamation in Scotland: with an explanation of the meaning of the Oath and Covenant. By the Lord Marquesse, his Majesties high commissioner. Set forth by the Kings speciall licence — Proclamations. 1638-12-08

Table of contents

Title page

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AN EXPLANATION OF THE MEANING OF THE OATH AND COVENANT.

PUBLISHED BY THE L. MARQUES, his Majeſties High Commiſſioner in SCOTLAND, By the KINGS ſpeciall command.

R Y

יהוה

‘IVSTVS VIVET FIDE’‘DEVS PROVIDERIT’

LONDON, Printed by His Majeſties Printer for Scotland, Anno Dom. 1639.

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‘HONI SOIT QVI MAL Y PENSE’

THROVGHE

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[Page] WHereas ſome have given out, that by the Act of Councell, which explaineth the Confeſſion of Faith lately commanded to be ſworne by his Majeſty, to be underſtood of the Confeſſion of faith, as it was then profeſſed and received, when it was made, and that in that Confeſſion, defence both of the doctrine & diſcipline then eſtabliſhed is ſworn, at which time epiſcopall government being (as they ſay) aboliſhed, it muſt needs follow, that the ſame government is by this late oath abjured.

And underſtanding that even amongſt thoſe who continue together ſtill at Glaſgow, under the name of a generall Aſſembly, though but a pretended and unlawfull one, this objection is held to be of ſome moment, and uſed by them to the great diſturbance of the peace of this church and kingdome, and to the great diſquieting of the mindes of ſuch his Majeſties good ſubjects as have taken the ſaid oath, and yet never meaned nor do mean to abjure epiſcopall government; And to perſwade others, that if they ſhall take the ſame oath thus explained by the ſaid Act of Councell, by ſo doing they muſt likewaies abjure the ſaid government:

We James Marqueſſe of Hamiltoun, his Majeſties high Commiſſioner, wondring that any ſuch ſcrupulous miſconſtruction ſhould be made of his Majeſties gracious and pious intentions, and being deſirous to remove all doubts from the minds of his Majeſties good ſubjects, and to keep them from being poyſoned [Page] by ſuch as by forced and forged inferences would make them beleeve, that they had actually by taking that oath ſworn that which neither virtually nor verely they have ſworn, or ever intended to ſwear, or was required by authority to be ſworn by them, either directly or indirectly: Conſidering that all oathes muſt be taken according to the minde, intention, and commandement of that authority, which exacteth the oath; and that we, by ſpeciall commandement from his ſacred Maieſtie, commanded the ſaid oath to be adminiſtred, we do hereby freely and ingenuouſly profeſſe and declare our mind and meaning herein, as we have conſtantly heretofore done ſince our coming into this kingdome about this imployment; viz. That by any ſuch words or act of councell we never meaned or intended that epiſcopall government ſhould be abiured, nor any thing elſe which was eſtabliſhed by acts of parliament, or acts of the church of this kingdome, which are now in force, and were ſo at the time of the taking of the ſaid oath.

Nor indeed could we have any other intention or meaning, being clearly warranted and expreſly commanded by his Maieſties inſtructions, to exact the ſaid oath, and take order that it ſhould be ſworn throughout the kingdome in that faire and lawfull ſenſe, and none other. Neither in this point did we deliver our own words, or his Maieſties minde ambiguouſly or doubtfully, ſo as any other ſenſe, to our thinking, could be picked or wrung out of either the one or the other; for we do atteſt the Lords of the Councell, whether we did not to many, or all of them upon ſeverall occaſions in conference with them ever ſince [Page] our coming into this kingdom, conſtantly declare unto them, that his Maieſties reſolution was not to ſuffer epiſcopall government to be aboliſhed: We atteſt all the Lords of Seſſion, whether before our tendering of that oath to them, or their Lordſhips taking of it, we did not fully and freely declare to them, that his Maieſties minde in commanding us to ſee this oath taken, and our own minde in requiring them to take it, was onely to ſettle and ſecure the religion and faith profeſſed in this kingdome, but was not to be extended to the abiuring of epiſcopall government, or any other thing now in force by the laws of this church and ſtate at the time of adminiſtring this oath, which their Lordſhips, being the reverend and learned Judges of the lawes, knew well could not be abiured; after which perſpicuous predeclaration of our minde, their Lordſhips undoubtedly in that ſame ſenſe and none other took the ſaid oath.

And now, good Reader, having heard his Maieſties minde and intention, and in purſuance of them, the mind of his Maieſties high Commiſſioner concerning this oath, though reaſons to repell the former obiection ſeem to be needleſſe (the known minde of the ſupreme Magiſtrate who urgeth an oath, being to be taken for the undoubted ſenſe of it) yet foraſmuch as that obiection hath of late bin mainly urged for alienating the mindes of many of his Maieſties good ſubiects, and well affected to that government, from adhering unto it, be pleaſed to know, that the former obiection hath neither ſhow nor force of reaſon in it, and that by the ſaid oath and that explanation ſet down in the act of councell, epiſcopall government neither was nor poſſibly could be abiured, and that for many reaſons, [Page] but eſpecially theſe five, which we having ſeen and approved, have cauſed to be here inſerted, and leave them to thine impartiall conſideration.

1 Firſt, God forbid it ſhould be imagined that his Majeſty ſhould command his ſubjects to take an oath which in it ſelf is abſolutely unlawfull: But for a man to ſwear againſt a thing which is eſtabliſhed by the laws of the church and kingdome in which he liveth (unleſſe that thing be repugnant to the law of God) is abſolutely unlawfull, untill ſuch time as that kingdome and church do firſt repeal theſe laws: And therefore epiſcopall government not being repugnant to the law of God, nay being conſonant unto it, as being of apoſtolicall inſtitution (which ſhall be demonſtrated if any man pleaſe to argue it) and ſtanding fully eſtabliſhed, both by acts of parliament, and acts of generall aſſembly at the time when this oath was adminiſtred; to abjure it before theſe acts be repealed, is abſolutely unlawfull, and againſt the word of God: and it is to be hoped no man will conceive that his Majeſtie meaned to command a thing abſolutely unlawfull. And if it ſhould be ſaid, as it is ſaid by ſome, (who not being able to avoid the force of reaſon, do betake themſelves to pitifull ſhifts and evaſions) that theſe acts of parliament and aſſembly eſtabliſhing epiſcopall government, were unlawfully and unduely obtained: certainly if they have any reaſons for this their bold aſſertion, which is of a more dangerous conſequence then that it ought to be endured in any well ſetled church or common-wealth; theſe reaſons may be preſented lawfully to theſe judicatories to entreat them to reduce the ſaids acts, if there ſhall be ſtrength and validity found in [Page] them. But to hold, that untill ſuch time as theſe judicatories ſhall repeal the ſaids laws, they either ought to be, or can poſſibly be abjured, is a wicked poſition, and deſtructive of the very foundation of juſtice both in church and common-wealth.

2 Secondly, it cannot be imagined that this oathſhould oblige the now takers of it farther then it did oblige the takers of it at firſt: for doctrine and points of faith it did oblige them then, and ſo doth it us now, perpetually, becauſe theſe points in themſelves are perpetuall, immutable and eternall: But for points of diſcipline and government, and policie of the Church, that oath could binde the firſt takers of it no longer then that diſcipline and government ſhould ſtand in force by the laws of this Church and Kingdome, which our Church in her poſitive confeſſion of faith printed amongſt the acts of Parliament, artic. 20.21. declareth to be alterable at the will of the Church it ſelf, and ſo repealable by ſucceeding acts, if the Church ſhall ſee cauſe. When a king at his coronation taketh an oath to rule according to the laws of his kingdome, or a judge at his admiſſion ſweareth to give judgement according to theſe laws, the meaning of their oaths cannot be that they ſhall rule or judge according to them longer then they continue to be laws: But if any of them ſhall come afterwards to be lawfully repealed, both king and judge are free from ruling and judging according to ſuch of them as are thus lawfully repealed, notwithſtanding their originall oath. Since therfore if the firſt takers of that oath were now alive, they could not be ſaid to have abjured epiſcopall government, which hath been ſince eſtabliſhed by the lawes of this church and kingdome, [Page] eſpecially conſidering that this church in her confeſſion holdeth church government to be alterable at the will of the church: certainly we repeating but their oath, cannot be ſaid to abiure that government now, more then they could be ſaid to do it if they were now alive and repeating the ſame oath.

3 Thirdly, how can it be thought that the very act of his Maieſties commanding this oath ſhould make epiſcopall government to be abiured by it, more then the covenanters requiring it of their aſſociats, in both covenants the words and ſyllables of the confeſſion of faith being the ſame? Now it is wel known that many were brought in to ſubſcribe their covenant, by the ſolemn proteſtations of the contrivers & urgers of it, that they might ſubſcribe it without abiuring of epiſcopacie, and other ſuch things as were eſtabliſhed by law, ſince the time that this oath was firſt invented and made; and the three Miniſters in their firſt anſwers to the Aberdene Quaeres have fully and clearly expreſſed themſelves to that ſenſe, holding theſe things for the preſent not to be abiured, but only referred to the triall of a free generall Aſſembly: and likewaies the adherers to the laſt proteſtation againſt his Majeſties proclamation, bearing date the 9. of September, in their ninth reaſon againſt the ſubſcription urged by his Maieſty, do plainly averre, that this oath urged by his Maieſty doth oblige the takers of it, to maintain Perth articles, and to maintain epiſcopacy. Why therefore ſome men ſwearing the ſame words & ſyllables ſhould have their words taken to another ſenſe, & be thought to abiure epiſcopall government, more then others who have taken the ſame oath in the ſame words, muſt needs paſſe the capacity of an ordinary underſtanding.

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4 Fourthly, it is a received maxime, and it cannot bedenied, but that oaths miniſtred unto us muſt either be refuſed, or elſe taken according to the known mind, profeſſed intention, and expreſſe command of authority urging the ſame: A propoſition, not onely received in all ſchools, but poſitively ſet down by the adherers to the ſaid proteſtation totidem verbis in the place above cited. But it is notoriouſly known even unto thoſe who ſubſcribed the confeſſion of faith by his Majeſties commandment, that his Majeſtie not only in his kingdomes of England and Ireland, is a maintainer and upholder of epiſcopall government according to the laws of the ſaid Churches and Kingdomes, but that likewaies he is a defender, and intends to continue a defender of the ſame government in his kingdome of Scotland, both before the time, and at the time when he urged this oath, as is evident by that which is in my Lord Commiſſioner his preface, both concerning his Majeſties inſtructions to his Grace, and his Graces expreſſing his Majeſties mind, both to the Lords of Councell, and to the Lords of Seſſion; and the ſame likewaies is plainly expreſſed and acknowledged by the adherers to the ſaid proteſtation in the place above cited: their words being theſe; And it is moſt manifeſt that his Majeſties mind, intention, and commandment, is no other but that the confeſsion be ſworn, for the maintenance of religion as it is already or preſently profeſſed (theſe two being co-incident altogether one and the ſame, not only in our common form of ſpeaking, but in all his Majeſties proclamations) and thus as it includeth, and continueth within the compaſſe thereof, the foreſaids novations and epiſcopacie, which under that name were alſo ratified, in the firſt parliament holden by his Majeſty. [Page] From whence it is plaine, that epiſcopacie not being taken away or ſuſpended by any of his Majeſties declarations, as theſe other things were which they call novations, it muſt needs both in deed, and in the judgment of the ſaid proteſters no waies be intended by his Majeſtie to be abjured by the ſaid oath. Now both the major and that part of the minor which concerneth epiſcopall government in the Church of Scotland, being cleerly acknowledged by the proteſters, and the other part of the minor concerning that government in his other two kingdomes being notoriouſly known, not only to them, but to all others who know his Majeſty, how it can be imagined that his Majeſty by that oath ſhould command epiſcopacy to be abjured, or how any one to whom his Majeſties mind concerning epiſcopall government was known, could honeſtly or ſafely abjure it, let it be left to the whole world to judge, eſpecially conſidering that the proteſters themſelves in that place above cited, by a dilemma, which we leave to themſelves to anſwer, have averred, that when that act of councell ſhould come out, yet that it could not be inferred from thence that any ſuch thing was abjured.

5 Fifthly and laſtly, if the explanation in that act of councell be taken in that not only rigid but unreaſonable and ſenſeleſſe ſenſe which they urge, yet they can never make it appear, that epiſcopall government at the firſt time of the adminiſtring of that oath was aboliſhed: The very words of that confeſſion of faith, immediately after the beginning of it, being theſe, Received, beleeved, defended by many and ſundry notable kirks and Realms, but chiefly by the kirk of Scotland, the Kings Majeſtie and three Eſtates of this realme, as[Page]Gods eternall truth & only ground of our ſalvation, &c. By which it is evident, that the ſubſcription to this confeſſion of faith is to be urged in no other ſenſe then as it was then beleeved and received by the Kings Majeſtie, and the three Eſtates of this realme at that time in being; and it is well known, that at that time Biſhops, Abbots and Priors made up a third eſtate of this realm, which gave approbation to this confeſſion of faith: and therefore it is not to be conceived, that this third eſtate did then abjure epiſcopacie, or that epiſcopacie was at the firſt ſwearing of that confeſſion aboliſhed. But ſay that at that time it was aboliſhed by acts of generall Aſſembly, yet was it not ſo by any act of Parliament, nay by many acts of Parliament it was in force, becauſe none of them was repealed; ſome whereof are annexed in the ſheet immediatly after theſe reaſons, which we pray the reader carefully to peruſe and ponder: and at the very time of the taking of this oath and after, biſhops, whoſe names are well known, were in being. Now it is to be hoped that in a Monarchy or any other well conſtituted republick, that damnable Jeſuiticall poſition ſhall never take place, That what is once enacted by a Monarch & his three eſtates in Parliament, ſhall ever be held repealed or repealable by any eccleſiaſticall nationall Synod.

By all which it is evident, that the explanation of that act of councell ſo groundleſly urged, can induce no man to imagine that by the confeſſion of faith lately ſworn by his Majeſties commandment, epiſcopall government, which then did, and yet doth ſtand eſtabliſhed by acts of this Church and Kingdome, either was, or poſſibly could be abjured.

And having now (good Reader) heard his Majeſties [Page] minde in his inſtructions to us, our minde in requiring in his Majeſties name this oath to be taken, and theſe few reaſons of many which do evidently evince the inconſequence of that ſenſe which without any ſhow of inference is put upon it by thoſe, who would go on in making men ſtill beleeve, that all which they do or ſay is grounded upon authority, though they themſelvs do well know the contrary; we ſuppoſe that all they who have taken this oath will reſt ſatisfied that they have not abjured epiſcopal government, and that they who ſhall take it, will take it in no other ſenſe.

Which timely warning of ours, we are the more willing to give, becauſe we are given to underſtand, that even they who were wont to call the takers of this oath (notwithſtanding of that explanation by act of councell) perjured and damned perſons, and in their pulpits called the urging of it the depth of Sathan, do now mean to take it themſelves, and urge others to take it in that ſenſe which they make men beleeve (though wrongfully) that act of councell makes advantageous to their ends.

But we do in his Majeſties name require that none preſume to take the ſaid oath, unleſſe they be required ſo to do by ſuch as ſhall have lawfull authority from his Majeſtie to adminiſter it unto them: being confident, that none either will or can take the ſaid oath or any other oath in any ſenſe, which may not conſiſt with epiſcopall government, having his Majeſties ſenſe, and ſo the ſenſe of all lawfull authority fully explained to them.

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THat epiſcopall juriſdiction was in force by acts of parliament, and no wayes aboliſhed nor ſuppreſſed in the year 1580. nor at the time of reformation of religion within the realm of Scotland, doth evidently appeare by the acts of parliament after mentioned.

Firſt by the parliament 1567. cap. 2. whereby at the time of reformation the Popes authority was aboliſhed, it is enacted by the ſaid act, That no biſhop, nor other prelate in this realm, uſe any juriſdiction in time coming by the biſhop of Romes authority. And by the third act of the ſame parliament, whereby it is declared, That all acts not agreeing with Gods word, and contrary to the confeſsion of faith approved by the eſtates in that parliament, to have no effect nor ſtrength in time to come. Whereby it is evident, that it was not the reformers intention to ſuppreſſe epiſcopacie, but that biſhops ſhould not uſe any juriſdiction by the biſhop of Rome his authority; and ſeeing they did allow epiſcopacie to continue in the church, that they did not eſteeme the ſame contrary to Gods word and confeſſion foreſaid: as appeares more clearly by the ſixth act of the ſaid parliament, which is [Page] ratified in the parliament 1579. cap. 68. whereby it is declared, That the miniſters of the bleſſed Evangel of Jeſus Chriſt, whom God of his mercie hath now raiſed up amongſt us, or hereafter ſhall raiſe, agreeing with them that now live in doctrine or adminiſtration of the ſacraments, and the people of this realme that profeſſe Chriſt as he is now offered in his Evangel, and do communicate with the holy ſacraments, as in the reformed kirks of this realme they are publickly adminiſtrate, according to the confeſsion of the faith, to be the only true and holy kirk of Jeſus Chriſt within this realme; without any exception by reaſon of policy and diſcipline, declaring only ſuch as either gain-ſay the word of the Evangel according to the heads of the ſaid confeſſion, or refuſe the participation of the holy ſacraments as they are now miniſtrate, to be no members of the ſaid kirk ſo long as they keep themſelves ſo divided from the ſociety of Chriſts body. Whereby it is manifeſt, that it was not the ſaid reformers minde to exclude any from that ſociety by reaſon of diſcipline, and that they did not at that time innovate or change any thing in that policy they found in the ſaid kirk before the reformation.

This is likewaies evident by the oath to be miniſtred to the king at his coronation, by the eighth act of the ſaid parliament, wherby he is to ſwear to maintain the true religion of Jeſus Chriſt, the preaching of his holy word, and due and right miniſtration of the ſacraments now received and preached within this realm, and ſhall aboliſh and gain-ſtand all falſe religion contrary to the ſame; without ſwearing to any innovation of policie and diſcipline of the kirk.

[Page]Secondly, it doth evidently appear by theſe ſubſequent acts of parliament, that by the municipall law of this realm archbiſhops and biſhops was not only allowed in the kirk, but alſo had juriſdiction and authority to govern the ſame.

1 Firſt, by the 24 act of the ſaid parliament, wherebyall civill priviledges granted by our ſoveraigne Lords predeceſſors to the ſpirituall eſtate of this realm, are ratified in all points after the form and tenor thereof. And by the 35. act of the parliament 1571. whereby all and whatſoever acts and ſtatutes made of before by our ſoveraigne Lord and his predeceſſors anent the freedome and liberty of the true kirk of God, are ratified and approved.

2 By the 46. act of the parliament 1572. whereby it is declared, that Archbiſhops and biſhops have the authority, and are ordained to conveen and deprive all inferiour perſons being miniſters, who ſhal not ſubſcribe the articles of religion, and give their oath for acknowledging and recognoſcing of our ſoveraigne Lord and his authority, & bring a teſtimoniall in writing thereupon within a moneth after their admiſſion.

3 By the 48. act of the ſame parliament, whereby it is declared, that archbiſhops and biſhops have authority at their viſitations to deſigne miniſters gleibes.

4 By the 54. act of the ſaid parliament, whereby archbiſhops and biſhops are authorized to nominate and appoint at their viſitations, perſons in every parochin for making and ſetting of the taxation, for upholding and repairing of kirks and kirk-yards, and to conveene, try, and cenſure all perſons that ſhall be found to have applied [Page] to their own uſe the ſtones, timber, or any thing elſe pertaining to kirks demoliſhed.

5 By the 55. act of the parliament 1573. whereby archbiſhops and biſhops are authorized to admoniſh perſons married, in caſe of deſertion, to adhere, and in caſe of diſobedience, to direct charges to the miniſter of the parochin to proceed to the ſentence of excommunication.

6 By the 63. act of the parliament 1578. whereby biſhops, & where no biſhops are provided, the Commiſſioner of dioceſſes, have authority to try the rents of hoſpitals, and call for the foundations thereof.

7 By the 69 act of the parliament 1579. whereby the juriſdiction of the kirk is declared to ſtand in preaching the word of Jeſus Christ, correction of manners, and adminiſtration of the holy ſacraments; and yet no other authority nor office-bearer allowed and appointed by act of parliament, nor is allowed by the former acts; but archbiſhops and biſhops intended to continue in their authority, as is clear by theſe acts following.

1 Firſt, by the 71. act of the ſame parliament, whereby perſons returning from their travels are ordained, within the ſpace of twenty dayes after their return, to paſſe to the biſhop, ſuperintendent, commiſsioner of the kirks where they arrive and reſide, and there offer to make and give a confeſſion of their faith, or then within fourtie daies to remove themſelves forth of the realme.

2 By the 99. act of the parliament 1581. whereby the foreſaids acts are ratified and approved.

3 By the 130. act of the parliament 1584. whereby [Page] it is ordained, that none of his Maieſties lieges and ſubiects preſume or take upon hand to impugne the dignity and authoritie of the three eſtates of this kingdome, whereby the honour and authority of the kings Maieſties ſupreme court of parliament, paſt all memorie of man, hath been continued, or to ſeek or procure the innovation or diminution of the power and authoritie of the ſame three eſtates, or any of them in time coming under the pain of treaſon.

4 By the 131. act of the ſame parliament, whereby all iudgments and iuriſdictions as well in ſpirituall as temporall cauſes, in practice and cuſtome during theſe twenty four years by-paſt not approved by his highneſſe and three eſtates in parliament, are diſcharged: and whereby it is defended, ‘That none of his highneſſe ſubiects of whatſoever qualitie, eſtate, or function they be of, ſpirituall or temporall preſume, or take upon hand to convocate, conveen, or aſſemble themſelves together for holding of councels, conventions, or aſſemblies, to treat, conſult, or determinate in any matter of eſtate, civill or eccleſiaſticall (except in the ordinary iudgements) without his Maieſties ſpeciall commandement; or expreſſe licence had and obtained to that effect.’

5 By the 132. act of the ſaid parliament, authorizing biſhops to try and iudge miniſters guilty of crimes meriting deprivation.

6 By the 133. act of the ſame parliament, ordaining Miniſters exercing any office beſide their calling to be tried and adiudged culpable by their ordinaries.

7 By the 23. act of the parliament 1587. whereby all acts made by his highneſſe, or his moſt noble progenitors [Page] anent the kirk of God, and religion preſently profeſſed, are ratified.

8 By the 231. act of the parliament 1597. bearing, ‘That our ſoveraigne Lord and his highneſſe eſtates in parliament, having ſpeciall conſideration of the great priviledges and immunities granted by his highneſſe predeceſſors to the holy kirk within this realme, and to the ſpeciall perſons exercing the offices, titles, and dignities of the prelates within the ſame: Which perſons have ever repreſented one of the eſtates of this realm in all conventions of the ſaids eſtates; and that the ſaids priviledges and freedomes have been from time to time renewed and conſerved in the ſame integritie wherein they were at any time before. So that his Maieſtie acknowledging the ſame to be fallen now under his Maieſties moſt favourable protection, therefore his Maieſty with conſent of the eſtates declares, that the kirk within this realme, wherein the true religion is profeſſed, is the true and holy kirk: And that ſuch miniſters as his Maieſtie at any time ſhall pleaſe to provide to the office, place, title, and dignitie of a biſhop, &c. ſhall have vote in parliament, ſicklike and als freely as any other eccleſiaſticall prelate had at any time by-gone.’ And alſo declares, that all biſhopricks vaicking, or that ſhall vaick, ſhall be only diſponed to actuall preachers and miniſters in the kirk, or ſuch as ſhall take upon them to exerce the ſaid function.

9 By the ſecond act of the parliament 1606. whereby ‘the ancient and fundamentall policie, conſiſting in the maintenance of the three eſtates of parliament, being of late greatly impaired and almoſt ſubverted, eſpecially by the indirect aboliſhing of the eſtate of biſhops by the [Page] act of annexation: Albeit it was never meaned by his Maieſtie, nor by his eſtates, that the ſaid eſtate of biſhops, being a neceſſary eſtate of the parliament, ſhould any wayes be ſuppreſſed; yet by diſmembring and abſtracting from them of their livings being brought in contempt and poverty, the ſaid eſtate of biſhops is reſtored, and redintegrate to their ancient and accuſtomed honour, dignities, prerogatives, priviledges, lands, teindes, rents, as the ſame was in the reformed kirk, moſt amply and free at any time before the act of annexation; reſcinding and annulling all acts of parliament made in preiudice of the ſaids biſhops in the premiſſes, or any of them, with all that hath followed, or may follow thereupon, to the effect they may peaceably enioy the honours, dignities, priviledges, and prerogatives competent to them or their eſtate ſince the reformation of religion.’

10 By the 6. act of the 20. parliament, declaring ‘that archbiſhops and biſhops are redintegrate to their former authority, dignity, prerogative, priviledges and iuriſdictions lawfully pertaining and ſhall be known to pertain to them, &c.’

11 By the 1. act of the parliament 1617. ordaining archbiſhops and biſhops to be elected by their Chapters, and no other wayes, and conſecrate by the rites and order accuſtomed.

FINIS.

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Information about this book

Title statement

His Majesties proclamation in Scotland: with an explanation of the meaning of the Oath and Covenant. By the Lord Marquesse, his Majesties high commissioner. Set forth by the Kings speciall licenceProclamations. 1638-12-08

Scotland. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I)

Edition statement

1639

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2009-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A68712

ID [STC]

STC 22001.5

ID [STC]

ESTC S100073

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99835925

ID [PROQUEST]

99835925

ID [VID]

158

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A68712)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 158)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1025:10, 1291:10)

Source

— His Majesties proclamation in Scotland: with an explanation of the meaning of the Oath and Covenant. By the Lord Marquesse, his Majesties high commissioner. Set forth by the Kings speciall licence, Proclamations. 1638-12-08, Scotland. Sovereign (1625-1649 : Charles I), Hamilton, James Hamilton, Duke of, 1606-1649. Explanation of the meaning of the Oath and the Covenant. aut.

Extent

[2], 14; [2], 17, [1] p.

printed by Robert Young, His Majesties printer for Scotland. 1639. Are sold at the Starre on Bread-street hill [by R. Young],. London :: [1639]. (Against acknowledging the Glasgow Assembly.) (Dated on b4v: Given .. the eighth day of December .. 1638.) ("An explanation of the meaning of the Oath and Covenant. .. London, printed by His Majesties printer for Scotland, anno Dom. 1639" by James Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, has separate title page and pagination; register is continuous. The title page verso has the Duke's arms. Variant: lacking the arms.) (A variant of the edition with "sold at the Gun in Ivie-lane" in imprint; bookseller's name from STC.) (Identified as STC 22001 on UMI microfilm reel 1291; the "Explanation" separately identified as STC 12727 on reel 1025.) (Reproductions of the originals in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery ("Early English books, 1475-1640"), and the British Library ("Early English newspapers").) (Appears at reel 1025 (part 2 only) and at reel 1291 (same copy filmed twice).)

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