4. _Act of Council anent the new Psalmes._[28]
Chancellor. Dumfreis. B. Brechin. Thesaurer. L. Bining. L. Naper. B. Glasgow. L. Alexander. Clᵏ Regʳ. Mar. B. Gallaway. Advocat. Winton. B. Aberdene. Justice. Seafort. B. Ros. Justice-Clerk.
Forsamekle as the late Psalmes have, by authoritie of the King his Maiestie, and the clergie of this kingdome, bene altered, revysed, and approvin, so that now his Maiestie, according to his pleasure, formerlie signified, for receaving of the said Psalmes, is fully resolved to have that warke goe on for the good of the church and memorie of the author; Therefore the Lords of Privie Counsell, according to his Maiesties expresse will and pleasure signified unto thame be writt, hes discharged, and, be the tennor of this present act, discharges all farder impression of the old psalmes, as alsua the inbringing of the same from England or ellis wyes, to the intent the new psalmes may be imprinted and generallie receaved and sung in all the churches of this kingdome. And the said Lords hes recommendit, and be the tennor heirof recommends to the Archbishop of St Andrewes, Lord High-Chancellor of this kingdome, to call before him, or before the Provest and Bailleis of burrowis, the whole printers and stationers within this kingdome, and all others whome this mater may concerne, and to intimat unto thame, this present act and ordinance, and to require thame and everie ane of thame, to conforme thameselffes and give obedience thereanent, under the paine of confiscation of the whole bookes which sall be prented or imported agains the tennor of this act, and ordines letters of publication to be direct thereupon, if neid beis, in forme as effeirs.
Followes his Majesties Commission for warrant of the act abouewritten.
Right reuerend father in God, &c. Whereas the late psalmes haue, by authoritie from us and the Clergie of both Kingdomes beene altered reuised and approved, We now, according to our pleasure formerlie signified for receaving thame in the church of that Kingdome, being fully resolved to cause that work goe on for the churches good and the authors memorie; It is our expresse will and pleasure, that according as you sall thinke fitt, you suffer no further impression to be made of the old psalmes, and that yow give such orders as yow sall find necessarie and which is in yower power, for printing and receaving of the new, to be generallie receaved and sung, in all the churches of this said Kingdome; and to that effect that yow give to our clairgie, (to whome we have written at length twiching the same) what strenth and authoritie you sall finde necessarie and can be grantit by yow, Quherein expecting frome you a readie performance, both by yowr owne good example and otherwayes, whereby we may finde the effects of your paines and affection to our forme, in this, whereof we will take as most acceptable service done unto us, and for whiche, these presents sall be your warrant. We bid yow farewell, from our Court at Whitehall, the 3 of Februarie 1637.