THE RECANTATION, AND humble submission of two ancient PRELATES, of the kingdom of SCOTLAND: Subscribed by their own hands; and sent to the general assembly. As also, THE ACT OF THE said assembly, condemning EPISCOPACY and other abuse which are contrary to the WORD of GOD, and the Laws of this Church and kingdom.  
Printed in the year, 1641.   

THE BISHOP OF Dunkell his Recantation.  
BE it known to all men, I Mr. Alexander Lindsay Minister at St. Madois, forsomuch as I by my Missive Letter sent by me to the general Assembly of the kirk of Scotland, holden at Glasgow, the 21. of Novemb. 1638. did freely submit myself, and dimit and lay down at the feet of the said Assembly my pretended Office of episcopacy, as pretended Bishop of Dunkell, and my Letter promised and subscribed with ample form of dimission there anent, as the said Assembly should subscribe. And now the said reverend Assembly hath found and declared the said Office of episcopacy as it hath been used and termed within the said kirk of Scotland, to be abjured by the Confession of Faith of the said kirk subscribed in the years 1580. 1581. and 1590. And therefore hath declared and discerned the said Office to be removed out of the said kirk of Scotland. As also seeing the Reverend Assembly hath discerned Me according to my said Letter, to subscribe a more ample form of Dimission of the said pretended Office, in presence of Sir John Moncreeffe, Knight Baronett, Mr. Robert Murray Minister at Methven, Mr. John Robertson, Minister at Perth, Mr. Alexander Petrye Minister at kind, and Thomas Durham Burges of Perth, Commissioners appointed by them for that effect. Therefore and for performance of my said Letter, and in obedience to the ordinance of the said Reverend Assembly; wit you me to have Dimitted, quytclamed, and simpliciter overgives the foresaid pretended Office of episcopacy, as pretended Bishop of Dunkell, with the whole Title, Style, Name, and dignity thereof: Power of Ordination, and Jurisdiction, Voice in Parliament, and usurpation of the same in time coming. And faithfully promises, and by these presents binds and oblidges me, never to exerce, nor use the said pretended Office, in the said kirk of Scotland; Nor no power of Ordination, Jurisdiction, Voice in Parliament, neither any other Power ecclesiastical, belonging, usurped, and acclamed to belong to the said pretended Office. Like as, according to the Act of the said Reverend Assembly, I acknowledge the said Office of Episcopacy to be abjured in the f●●esaid Confession of Faith; and therefore most justly aught to be removed out of the said kirk of Scotland; and these whole premises I heartily acknowledge, As I will answer to God. In testimony hereof, I am content and consents, that these Presents be insert, and Registrate in the general Books of Assembly, therein to remain Ad 〈◊〉 rei memoriam. And to that effect constitutes my lawful Procurators, conjunctly and severally, Promitter 〈◊〉 rato. In witness whereof (written by Robert Re 〈…〉, servant to Pattrick Rosse Nottar in Perth) I have subscribed the same with my hand, as said is. At St. Madois, the 24. of January 1639. Before these witnesses,  




Students in Perth.  
Mr. George Paterson,  
Mr. Allexander Dundie,    
George Boswall, servant to. SirIohn Moncreeffe.     

THE BISHOP OF ORKNAY his Recantation.  
TO all and sundry whom it effeeres; To whose knowledge these Presents shall come; especially, to the Reverend and honourable members of the future assembly to be holden at Edinburgh the 12. of August 1639. I Mr. George Grahame sometime pretended Bishop of Orknay, being sorry and grieved at my heart, that I should ever for any worldly respect have embraced the order of Episcopacy; the same having no warrant from the Word of God: and being such an Order as hath had sensibly, many fearful, and evil consequences in many parts of Christendom▪ And particularly, within the Chur●h of Scotland, as by doleful, and deplorable experience this day is manifest, to have disclaimed▪ Like as, I, by the tenor hereof, do altogether disclaim, and abjure all episcopal power, and jurisdiction, with the whole corruptions thereof, condemned by lawful Assemblies within the Church of Scotland. In regard the same is such an Order, as, is also abjured within the said Church, by virtue of that national Oath which was made in the year of God 1580. and 1581. Promising and swearing By the great Name of the Lord our God, &c. That I shall never while I live, directly exerce any such power within the Church; neither yet shall I ever approve, or allow the same: not so much as in any private or public discourse, But on the contrary, shall-stand and adhere to all the Acts and Constitutions of the late assembly holden at Glasgow▪ the 21. of Novemb. 1638. Last by past: And shall concur to the utter most of my power, sincerely and faithfully, as occasion shall offer in executing the said Acts; and advancing the work of Reformation within this Land; To the glory of God, the Peace of the country, and the comfort and contentment of all good Christians, As God shall be my help. In testimony of which premises, I have subscribed these Presents with my hand; At Brecknesse in Stromnes the 12. of February 1639. Before these witnesses.  


Mr. Walter Stewart Minister at Sowthronaldsay.  
Mr. James Cheene Minister at Kirkwall.  
Mr. Robert Person Minister at Firth.  
Mr. Patrick Grahame son to the said Bishop. Minister at Holme,     

THE ACT OF THE general Assembly.  
THe King's majesty having declared, that it is his royal will and pleasure, that all Questions about Religion and matters ecclesiastical, be determined by the Church: having also by public Proclamation Indicted this free national Assembly, for settling the present distractions of this Church; and for establishing a perfect Peace, against such divisions and discords), as have been sore displeasing to his majesty, and grievous to all his good Subjects. And now his majesty's Commissioner John E. of Traquair, instructed and authorized with a full Commission, being present and sitting in this assembly, now fully convened and orderly constitute, in all the members thereof, according to the order of this Church having at large declared his majesty's zeal to the Reformed Religion; and his royal care, and tender affection to this Church; (where his majesty had both his Birth and baptism) his great displeasure at the manifold distractions, and divisions of this Church and kingdom; and his desire to have all our wounds perfectly cured, with a fair and Fatherly hand. And although in the way approved by this Church, trial hath been taken in former Assemblies before from the Church Registers to our full satisfaction. Yet the Commissioner making a particular inquiry, from the members of the Assembly now solemnly convened concerning the real and true causes, of so many and great evils at this time past, and so sore troubling the Peace of the Church and kingdom. It was represented to his majesty's Commissioner by this Assembly; That besides many other, the main and most material causes were,  
1. First, the pressing of this Church by Prelates with a Service book, or book of Common Prayer, without direction or warrant from the Church, and containing besides the Popish frame thereof, divers Popish errors, and Ceremonies; and the seeds of manifold gross superstitions, and idolatry: with a Book of Canons, without warrant oer direction from the general Assembly; establishing a tyrannical power over the Church in the person of Bishop; and overthrowing the whole discipline and government of the Church by Assemblies▪ with a Book of Consecration, and Ordination, without warrant of authority civil or ecclesiastical, appointing Offices in the house of God, which are not warranted by the Word of God; and repugnant to the Discipline and Acts of our Church: with the Commission erected without the consent of the Church, subverting the Jurisdiction and ordinary Judicatories of this Church; and giving to persons merely ecclesiastical the power of both Swords; & to persons merely civil, the power of the keys and Church Censures.  
2. A second cause was the Articles of Perth (viz.) Observation of festival days; kneeling at the Communion; Confirmation; Administration of the Sacraments in private places which were brought in by a civil Assembly; and are contrary to the Confession of Faith 1590. as it was meant and subscribed in Ann. 1580. and divers times since to the order and Constitution of this Church.  
3. A third cause was, the change of the Government of the Church, from the Assemblies of the Church to the persons of churchmen; usurping the priority and power over their brethren, by the way, and under the name of episcopal government, against the Confession, Anno 1580. Against the order set down in the Book of Policy; and against the intentions and Constitutions of this Church from the beginning.  
4. A fourth cause was, the civil places and power of Church men, their sitting in Session, counsel, and Exchequer: Their Ridding sitting and voting in Parliament; and their sitting in the Bench as Justices of Peace, which according to the constitutions of the Church, are incompatible with their spiritual function, lifting up above their brethren, and worldly pomp, and do tend to the hindrance of the Ministry.  
A fifth cause was, The keeping and authorising of corrupt Assemblies at Linlithgow 1606. 1608. at Glasgow 1610. at Aberdene 1616. at St. Andrews 1617. at Perth 1618. which are all null and unlawful, as being called and constitute quite to ● order and constitutions of this Church, received, and practised ever since the Reformation of Religion. And withal 〈…〉 ing to introduce Novations within this Church, against the order and Religion established.  
A sixt cause was, The want of lawful and free general Assemblies, rightly constitute of Pastors, Doctors, and Elders yearly or oftener pro re rata, according to the liberty of the Church, expressed in the Book of Policy, and acknowledged in the Act of Parliament 1592. Which his majesty's Commissioner having heard patiently, and examined particularly, and all objections to the contrary being answered to the full. The whole Assembly with express consent of his majesty's Commissioner, in one heart and voice did declare that these & such other proceedings, from the neglect and breach of the N 〈…〉 all Covenant of this Church, and Kingdom made in 〈…〉 have been indeed, the true and main cause of all our evil 〈◊〉 and distractions. And therefore ordains, according to the Const●tutions of the general Assemblies of this Church, and upon the grounds respective above specified, that the foresaid Service book, Book of Cannons, and Ordination, and High Commission be rejected still: That the Articles of Perth be no more practised: That episcopal Government and the civil places and power of Churchmen, be holden still as unlawful in this Church: That the above named pretended Assemblies at Linlithgow 1606. 1608. at Glasgow 1610. at Aberdean 1616. at St. Andrews 1617. at Perth 1618. be hereafter accounted as nul and of none effect; and that for preservation of Religion, and proventing all such evils in time coming, general Assemblies rightly constitute, as the perfect and competent. Judge of all matters ecclesiastical hereafter be kept yearly and oftener as occasion and necessity shall require. The necessity being first remonstrate to his majesty by humble Supplication; as also of these occasional Assemblies, that Church Sessions, Presbyteries, and Sinodall Assemblies, constitute and ordained according to the Book of Policies, and Constitutions of this Church, be also hereafter kept as occasion and necessity shall require.   
FINIS.