The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

At the same time convened in Edinburgh the general Assembly of the Ministers, and Commissioners of the Churches Reformed within this Realm: There assisted them of the Nobility, the Earls of Morton and Mar, the Lord Lindsay, and Secretary Lethington, with others. The chief things that were concluded in this Assembly, were, That for the avoiding of the plagues and scourges of God which appeared to come upon the people for their sins and ingratitude, there should be proclaimed by the Ministers a public Fast, to be Universally observed throughout all the Reformed Churches; which manner of Fasting was soon after devised by John Knox, at the Command of the Church, and put in Print, wherefore needs not here to be recited in this place.¹ What followed upon the said Fast, shall be plainly, God willing, declared. The second thing that was ordained in this Assembly, was, concerning the Ministers, who for want of payment of their stipends, were like to perish, or else to leave their Ministry: wherefore it was found necessary, That supplication should be made to the King and Queens Majesties; And for the same purpose, a certain uumber of the most able men were elected to go to their Majesties aforesaid, to lament and bemoan their case; Which persons had Commission to propose some other things, as shall be declared. The names of them that past from the Church to the King and Queens Majesties, were, M. John Spotswood, Superintendent of Lowthian; John Winrame, Superintendent of Fife; M. John Row, Minister of Perth; M. David Lindsay, Minister of Leith, who easily obtained audience of the King and Queens Majesties: And after their reverence done, M. John Row, in name of the rest, opened the matter, lamenting & bewailing the miserable state of the poor Ministers, who by public command had been reasonably satisfied three years or more, by virtue of the Act made with advice of the honourable Privy Council, for the taking up of the Thirds of the Benefices, which was especially made in their favours: Nevertheless the Laird of Tillibardin, new Comptroller, would answer them nothing: Wherefore they besought their Majesties for relief.

At the same time convened in Edinburgh the generall Assembly of the Ministers, and Commissioners of the Churches Reformed within this Realme: There assisted them of the Nobility, the Earles of Morton and Marr, the Lord Lindsay, and Secretary Lethington, with others. The chief things that were concluded in this Assembly, were, That for the avoyding of the plagues and scourges of God which appeared to come upon the people for their sins and ingratitude, there should be proclaimed by the Ministers a publike Fast, to be Universally observed thorowout all the Reformed Churches; which manner of Fasting was soon after devised by Iohn Knox, at the Command of the Church, and put in Print, wherefore needs not here to be recited in this place.