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Supplicatioun the synod of Galloway contra Thomas McGhie, with ane commissioun to the Erle of Gallaway to apprehend Thomas McKie†
The supplicatioun of the synod of Galloway to the commissionar, his grace, and remanent members of this reverend assemblie.
Wnto your reverend and godlie wisdomes humblie complaines and showis we, the ministers and rueling elders, commissioners from the presbytries of Galloway, that whereas there was ane complaint made be the presbytrie of Wigtoun unto the synodall assemblie of Galloway holdin in October 1640 of the insolent and barbarous behaviour of Thomas McKie, late clerk of Wigtoun, a noncovenanter and infamous man, for falshood and perjurie, who was sentenced be the counsell to be banished the kingdome, showing that though the civill magistrate miskend him, yet it was incumbent to them to presse the kirk discipline. And because they urged his repentance for his forsaid sinne and wickitnes, he railed against them with most odious and barbarous speeches and threatned to come to the presbytrie and call them all false knaves to their faces, to cutt their beards, to putt a whinger in some of them and to putt a pair of bulletts in them, although he should be takin to the crosse and hangit for it, as himself confessed before the presbytrie when the minister of the toune accused him for it. Upon whilk complaint of the said presbytrie, the synod concludit ane act ordaining Maistir Johne McClellane, their moderator, to be informed be the presbytrie of Wigtoun of the particular passagies and maner of the said Thomas McKie his insolent behaviour towards them; and upon their informatioun, to supplicate the committe of estate for the repressing and correcting of the samyne. The executioun of quhilk act, though it was delayed upon hopes of the said Thomas, his amendement, yet at the nixt synod holdin in Apryll last it was renewed againe and ordained to be putt in executioun, the presbytrie still fynding him unwilling to make satisfactioun and daylie more and more disturbing them in medling with the affairs of the kirk and secretlie stirring up and informing scandalous persons to crosse the discipline thairof; as also that he imployed himself bussilie be his malicious calumnies in incenseing some personages of great note and auctoritie against the brethrein of the ministrie, to their great greife, contempt of their ministrie and disturbance of their peace and comfort in the exercise of their calling. For repressing of quhilk intollerable insolencies, the said Maistir Johne McClellane, who was ordained to complaine of him in name of the synod as said is, with advyse of the rest of the commissionars of Galloway and others of the ministrie and ruleing elders heir present, can fynd no remedie so readie or so forcible as to supplicat this reverend assemblie for thair concurrence in recommending unto the honorable estates of parliament the consideratioun of the said Thomas his behaviour to the presbytrie. Heirfore oure humble supplicatioun unto your reverend and godlie wisdomes is that ye will supplicate the parliament for us that they wold be pleased to take such a course with the said Thomas McKie be order of law and thair auctoritie, that his barbarous insolencies may be repressed and the said presbytrie of Wigtoun secured in the peaceable exercise of their ministrie and their calling vindicate from the contempt of such ane infamous persone who is under the sentence of banishment. And your wisdomes answer we most humblie crave.
Quinto Augusti 1641
This supplicatione being represented to the parliament be the commissioners from the assemblie and red in thair presence, they appoint the Erle of Galloway to apprehend the said Thomas McKie and sist him befoir thame betuix and this day fyftene dayis. And ordanes ane commissione to be graunted to the said erle or any otheris quhom he shall appoynt for this effect, to be subscryved be the president.
Burghly, I[n] p[raesentia] d[ominorum] parl[iamenti]†