11 - The Scottish canons of 1636

Summary

Charles R.

We, out of our royal care for the maintenance of the present estate and government of the Church of Scotland, having diligently, and with great content, considered all the canons and constitutions after following, and finding the same such, as we are persuaded, will be profitable not only to our clergy, but to the whole church of that our kingdom, if so they be well observed, have for us, our heirs and lawful successors, of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion, given, and by these presents do give our royal assent unto all the said canons, orders and constitutions, and to all and everything in them contained, as they are afterwards set down.

And further, we do not only by our prerogative royal and supreme authority in causes ecclesiastical, ratify and confirm, by these our letters patents, the said canons, orders and constitutions, and all and everything in them contained, but likewise we command by our authority royal and by these our letters patents, the same to be diligently observed and executed, by all our loving subjects of that our kingdom, both within the provinces of St Andrews and Glasgow, in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them, according to this our will and pleasure, hereby expressed and declared. And for the better observation of them, we straightly charge and command all archbishops, bishops and all others that exercise any ecclesiastical jurisdiction within that our realm, to see and procure (so much as in them lieth) all and every of the same canons, orders and constitutions, to be in all points duly observed; not sparing to execute the penalties in them severally mentioned, upon any that shall willingly and wilfully break or neglect to observe the same, as they tender the honour of God, the peace of the church, the tranquillity of the kingdom and their service and duty to us their king and sovereign.

Given at our manor of Greenwich, the 23rd of May 1635.