James, be the grace of God, kinge of Scottis, to our Schereff of Aberdene, and his deput, and to our louitts, Schyr Johne ruderfurd kny{t}, and thomas mēzeis of Petfothellis, our scherefys in that part coniunctlie and seuerallie specialie constitut, greting, fforsamekill as it is humelie menyt and schewin to ws be ane Reuerend fader in god, and our truist consalour, gawyne, bischop of Aberdene, yat quhar syndry strangers ande otheris w{t}in his diocesy of Aberdene, has bukys of that heretick luthyr and favors his errorys and fals opinionys, incontrar our act of parliament laitlie mayd in o{r} last parliament, Oure will is heirfor, ande we charge zow straitle and commandis yat incontynent thir our lr̄es sayne ze [make] publick ye sayde act at all places neydfull and tak inquisition̄e gyfe ony personys be fundin w{t}in the sayde diocesy of Aberdene, that hes sic bukys, or fauorys sic arorys of the said luthyr, and that ze confisk y{r} gudes and inbring ye samyn to our wss and profict, efter the forme of the said act, as ze will ansuer y{r}upoun, ye quhilk to do, we commyt to you coniunctlie and seu{r}lie oure full power be thyr oure {428} lr̄es deliuering yame to zow deulie execut ande indorset agane to the berar. Geuin vnder our signet, at Edinburgh, ye sevint day of August, and of our regne ye xij zēyr. Ex deliberacione dominor̄ consilii, &c. CHEPMAN. {429} SUPPLEMENT. The first Poem inserted in the Supplement is so exceedingly rare, that the copy from which I have printed, is supposed to be unique. It is valuable as the principal events in our Reformer’s life are commemorated in it, and the leading features of his character delineated, by the pen of one who was personally acquainted with him. As a curious specimen of the Scottish language and versification at the period in which it was composed, the old orthography has been carefully retained. The serious reader will be pleased in tracing the vein of piety which runs through rhymes which must appear to him rude, and sometimes almost unintelligible.――Its author, John Davidson, was a regent, or teacher, in the University of St Andrews, and afterwards successively minister of Libberton, and of Salt‑Preston, now called Prestonpans. I have already referred to several of his other writings. Vol. i. p. 354. Vol. ii. p. 241, 349. He also published a Catechism, entitled, “Some Helpes for Young Schollers in Christianity,” printed at Edinburgh, by Robert Waldegrave in 1602. And he died about 1608. Note subjoined to Jameson’s edition of his Catechism, in 1708. Life of Davidson, in Wodrow’s MSS. vol. i. Bibl. Coll. Glas.