October 1637. Ceremonies./ It is Reported that the Scottes doe much oppose the receavinge of our Englishe Leturgie, and will not admitte of our Ceremonies into there Churches, nor the ecclesiasticall government of there Churche by Bishops &c after the English manner./

A Trewe copie of a letter sente from the nobilitie of Scotland & others to the lordes of his majesties privie Counsell of Englande

Scotlande/ My Lordes of secrett Councell unto your Lordshipps humble meanes and shewes, wee vndersub= scribed, Noble men, Barrons, Burgeses, ministers and Commons: that wheras wee are in all humility and quiet manner attendinge a gratious answere of our former sup= plications against the Service book impressed upon us, and ready to shewe the greate inconveniences which upon the introduction therof must ensue. wee are (without any knowne deserte) farr beyonde expectation surprised and charged by publik procla= macion to departe out of the Towne (meaninge Edenborough.) within 24 howers thereafter vnder paine of Rebellion: by which peremptorie and vnvsuall charge our feares of a more severe and stricte course of proceedinge in theise matters are augmented, and the course of our supplicacions interrupted. Wherfore wee are constrayned out of the deepe grefe of our hartes humblie to remonstrate: That whereas the Archbishop and Bishops of this our Realme beinge intrusted by his majestie with the government of the affaires of the Churche of Englande haue drawne upp & sett forthe, or caused to bee drawne upp, and sett forthe and to bee enioyned vpon the subiecte Two Bookes, in the one wherof called the booke of common prayer book of common 1. prayer./ not only are sowne the seedes of superstition Idolatrie and false doctrine, contrary to the Religion established by diverse actes of parliament, But also the service booke //⫶ ∞ //⫶ ∞ of Englande is so much abused, espetially in the matter of the Communion, by additions, subtractions, interchanginge of wordes and sentences, falsifyinge of titles, misplacinge of Collectes, to the disadvantage of Reformation, as the Romishe Masse is in the mayne and substancyall pointes made upp therin, as wee offer to instance in tyme and place conveniente cleane contrary to and for the reversinge of the gratious intention of the blessed reformers of book of Cannons 2. Religion in Englande. In the other booke called Cannons and constitutions for the government of the Churche of Scotlande they haue ordayned that whosoever shall affirme that the forme of worship contayned in the booke of common prayer and administration of Sacramentes (wherof heretofore and nowe wee must iustly com= plaine) doth contayne any thinge repugnante to the Scripture or are corrupt superstitions or unlawfull in the service and worship of God shalbee excommunicated and not reconciled recovered (reconciled) but by the Bishop of the place or Archbishop of the province after his repentance, and publike revocation of this his wicked error. Besides 100. cannons more many of them tendinge to the Re= vivinge & fosteringe of abolished superstition and errors, to the overthrowe of Churche discipline established by acte of parliament openinge a dore, for what further innovation of religion they please to make, in stoppinge the way which lawe before did allowe unto us for suppressinge of error and superstition: And ordayninge that wherin any of the Cannons there is not a penaltie expreslie sett downe, the punishment shalbee arbitrarie as the Bishop shall thinck fitte. All which cannons were never seene and allowed in our generall assemblies but are imposed contrary to lawe appointed in this kingdome for the establishinge of matters eccle= siastick./. Unto the which two bookes the foresaide prelates haue procured his majesties royall hande and letters Pattentes for pressinge the same vpon his loyall subiectes, and yet are they the contrivers and devisors of the same, as doth clerely appeare by the frontispice of the booke of common prayer and are begun to urge the same not only by Iniunctions given in provinciall assemblies but also by open proclamacion and charges of horninge whereby wee are driven into such straightes as wee must eyther either by processe of Extention Excomunication and horninge suffer the ruyne of our estates and fortunes, or els by breache of covenante with God and forsakinge the waye of true Religion fall vnder the wrathe of God which vnto us is more grevous then deathe. Wherfore wee being perswaded that theise there pro= ceedinges are contrary to our gratious soveraignes pious intentions, whoe out of his zeale and princely care of the preservation of true Religion established in this (havinge) fol: his ancyente kingdome hath ratified the same in his highnesse parliament 1633 and so his highnesse to bee highly wronged by the saide Prelates whoe haue soe farre abused there credite with soe good a kinge as thus to ensnare subiectes rente our Churche, vndermyne religion, endoctrine Sacraments, & discipline move discontente betwixte the kinge and his subiectes, and discorde betweene Subiecte and Subiecte contrary to the severall actes of parliament. Wee out of our //⫶ ∞ //⫶ ∞ bounden dutie to God, our kinge and native Country complaine of theise foresaide Prelates, humbly cravinge that this matter may bee putt to tryall and theise our parties may bee taken order with, and that they bee not suffred to site any longer as our Iudges vntill our cause bee tryed & decided accordinge to Iustice. And yf this shall seeme to your Lordships a matter of higher importance then you will condiscende vnto before his see the reasons adioyned in fol: 133./ majestie bee acquaynted therwith, then wee humbly supplicate that this our greivance and complainte may bee fully represented to his maiestie that from the influence of his majesties gratious government and Iustice theise wronges may bee redressed, and wee haue the happinesse to enioye the Religion as yt hath bynn reformed in this lande and established by actes and Statutes of this Realme/