❧ By the King.  
WHereas we have since it pleased God to establish us in the Imperial Crown of Great Britain, equally regarded the good of both the late Kingdoms of Scotland and England, now happily united our Royal person in one Monarchy, ever minding to maintain and continue the good and lowable customs and Laws whereby each of them hath been these many ages so worthily governed: nevertheless some malicious spirits, enemies to that common tranquillity so much desired by us (forgetting the many proofs both public and private, which we have given of that our gracious affection to that our native and ancient country of North Britain, of the freedom, liberty and privileges whereof we have at all occasions taken so special a patrociny, as the solemn assemblies of the Estates of South Britain, and Commissioners from the Estates of both Kingdoms have been eye witnesses) have not been ashamed to labour to pervert the minds of our best affected subjects, That whereas the insolent and factious carriage of some of them hath merited most severe animadversion, they would insinuate themselves in the commiseration of the multitude, by assuming unto them a glorious profession of the maintaining of the Privileges and auctorized discipline, intended by us (as they affirm) to be utterly overthrown by a sudden and unseasonable laying upon them at this present the Rites, Ceremonies, and whole Ecclesiastical order established in the Church of this part of our Kingdom of Britain. And as we have ever carefully regarded how convenient it is to maintain every Country in that form of government which is fittest and can best agree with the constitution thereof, and how dangerous alterations are without good advice and mature deliberation, and that even in matters of order of the Church, in some small islands under our Dominions, we have abstained from suffering any alteration: So doubt we not, but our good Subjects will never be that credulous contrary to the known truth, which hath ever appeared clearly in all our Actions, as to be in any doubt, but as in all our proceed we have been a Patron of Religion and justice, (two inseparable conservers of all Monarchies,) So hath all our study and care ever been to retrench and reform all courses that carried any prejudice to that integrity whereat we have ever aimed, and as by so many good Laws set forth in our government, justice hath attained to another perfection and splendour, than it had in any our predecessors times, and with painful and unpleasant business, we have in the discipline of the Church taken away innumerable abuses and corruptions, which it they had not been remedied, had brought the purity of Religion in extreme danger. Yet we hope that none dare be so impudent as to affirm that by our Sovereign power, or absolute commandment we did the same (although we enjoyed our authority as freely as any King or Monarch of the world) but as the disease of the Civil body was ever cured by the advise of our three Estates, So the defects of the Church by the help and counsel of those who had greatest interest in them, So as the presumpeion of our by-gone actions in our administration, whiles we were present, the proof of our fatherly care towards this part of our Kingdom since our residence here, may be sufficient to secure us against all such malicious calumniations. And how ever in rule of policy we cannot but judge it convenient that two estates so inseparably conjoined, should be drawn to as great conformity in all things as the good of both may permit; And that no Monarchy either in Civil or Ecclesiastical policy hath yet attained to that perfection, that it needs no reformation, or that infinite occasions may not arise whereupon wise Princes will foresee for the befit of their States, just cause of alteration: Yet are we and have ever been resolved, not to make any sudden or hasty change in the government of that part of our Kingdom, either Civil or Ecclesiastical, but with grave advice and consent of our Estates, and the wisest and best sort of them whom it most properly concerns, much less to trouble them with any unnecessary alteration of indifferent and Ceremonial matters, and that upon such foreseen advantages, and prevention of confusion and evil to come, as the greatest enemies of all Peace, obedience to Princes, and order in all governments shall not obtrude any inconvenient to the contrary. And as by God's holy assistance, we have drawn that part of our Kingdom out of infinite troubles, factions, and cruel barbarities, and reduced the uttermost borders and confines thereof to God's obedience, and acknowledging of our Laws; (an Estate never heard of before, since this Island hath been inhabited) So by the same divine providence and our fatherly care over the whole Island, we intent to transmit the same in good order, happy quietness, and flourishing policy to that posterity wherewith God hath blessed us, and after them to the world's end; Like as for the more verification of our Honourable intention, and to stop the mouths of these unquiet spirits, raisers of that false scandal of alteration, We have appointed a general assembly to be holden at Dundee the last Tuesday of July, whereat we expect reparation of those disorders in so far as belongeth to their censure, and to be freed in time coming of all such calumnies.  
Given at our Honour of Hampton Court the 26. day of September, in the third year of our Reign of Great Britain, France and Ireland. Anno Dom. 1605. 
 God save the King.   

¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printed to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. 1605.