The History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland

About the same time, to wit, the 25 of June, the general Assembly of the whole Church convened at Edinburgh ▪ The Earls of Argyle and Murray assisted at the Assembly: Paul Methvin, who before, as we heard, was excommunicate, gave in his Supplication, and desired to be heard, as he had done divers times; for the said Paul had written oft times out of England to the Laird of Dun, and to divers others, most earnestly desiring to be received again into the Fellowship of the Church. After reasoning of the matter, it was finally granted, That he should be heard; And so being before the Assembly, and falling upon his knees, burst out with tears, and said, He was not worthy to appear in their presence; always he desired them, for the love of God, to receive him to the open expression of his repentance. Shortly after, they appointed certain of the Ministers to prescribe to him the form of his declaration of Repentance, which was thus in effect, first, That he should present himself barefoot and bare-head, arrayed in Sack-cloth, at the principal entry of Saint Giles Kirk in Edinburgh, at seven hours in the morning upon the next Wednesday, and there to remain the space of an hour, the whole people beholding him, till the Prayer was made, Psalms sung, and Text of Scripture was read, and then to come into into the place appointed, for expression of repentance, and tarry the time of Sermon; and to do so likewise the next Friday following, and also upon the Sunday; and then, in the face of the whole Church, to declare his repentance with his own mouth. The same form and manner he should use in Jedwart and Dundee; And that being done, to present himself again at the next general Assembly following in Winter, where he should be received to the Communion of the Church. When the said Paul had received the said Ordinance, he took it very grievously, alleging, They had used over-great severity; Nevertheless, being counselled and persuaded by divers notable Personages, he began well in Edinburgh to proceed, whereby a great number were moved with compassion of his state; and likewise in Jedwart: but he left his duty in Dundee, and passing again into England, the matter, not without offence to many, ceased.

About the same time, to wit, the 25 of Iune, the generall Assembly of the whole Church convened at Edinburgh ▪ The Earles of Argyle and Murray assisted at the Assembly: Paul Methvin, who before, as we heard, was excommunicate, gave in his Supplication, and desired to be heard, as he had done divers times; for the said Paul had written oft times out of England to the Laird of Dun, and to divers others, most earnestly desiring to be received again into the Fellowship of the Church. After reasoning of the matter, it was finally granted, That he should be heard; And so being before the Assembly, and falling upon his knees, burst out with tears, and said, He was not worthy to appear in their presence; alwayes he desired them, for the love of God, to receive him to the open expression of his repentance. Shortly after, they appointed certain of the Ministers to prescribe to him the form of his declaration of Repentance, which was thus in effect, first, That he should present himself barefoot and bare-head, arayed in Sack-cloth, at the principall entry of Saint Gyles Kirk in Edinburgh, at seven hours in the morning upon the next Wednesday, and there to remain the space of an hour, the whole people beholding him, till the Prayer was made, Psalmes sung, and Text of Scripture was read, and then to come into into the place appointed, for expression of repentance, and tarry the time of Sermon; and to do so likewise the next Friday following, and also upon the Sunday; and then, in the face of the whole Church, to declare his repentance with his owne mouth. The same form and manner he should use in Iedwart and Dundie; And that being done, to present himself again at the next generall Assembly following in Winter, where he should be received to the Communion of the Church. When the said Paul had received the said Ordinance, he took it very grievously, alleadging, They had used over-great severity; Neverthelesse, being counselled and perswaded by divers notable Personages, he began well in Edinburgh to proceed, whereby a great number were moved with compassion of his state; and likewise in Iedwart: but he left his duty in Dundie, and passing again into England, the matter, not without offence to many, ceased.