More about the Royal Stuarts

Stories performed by the Royal Stuarts Royal Stuarts Performance Schedule Publicity for Events Contact Information


Biographies of the Stuart Monarchs This page Interesting Trivia

Copyright (c) 1998
Royal Stuarts
All Rights Reserved
Five Articles of Perth
1. The sacrament of the body and blood of Christ should be received kneeling
2. It might be administered in private to the sick
3. When infants could not conveniently be baptized in church they might be baptized at home
4. Children being eight years old, and after being instructed in the Lord's Prayer, Creed, Ten Commandments, and Catechism, should be brought to the bishop on his visitation, to be examined in the religious knowledge, and to receive his blessing
5. The days commemorative of Christ's birth, passion, resurrection, ascension, and the sending down of the Holy Ghost should be kept in devout observance.
James VI

These articles were passed by General Assembly at Perth on the 25th of August, 1618. It would not be until the 4th of August, 1621 before Parliament would fully ratify them.

...nothing remained but the touch of the sceptre, by which symbolical deed the proceedings of the parliament would be declared ratified. But in the meantime a heavy darkness had been gathering over the building; and just when the royal commissioner had risen from the throne and extended the sceptre to touch the acts, a vivid flash of lighting shone through the building; a second succeeded, and then a third, followed by peals of thunder that shook the house and carried dismay into every heart. To a generation that was seeking a sign, and that read the tokens of heavenly anger or approval in these sudden changes of the elements, this storm was the voice of God proclaiming his displeasure of the deed and demanding its revocation; but the prelatist party, after their fears had subsided, declared it a favourable omen, and that the same thunder and lightning which had confirmed the given of the old law on Mount Sinai, had been reawakened to attest the new laws which were now to be proclaimed. That day, which is Saturday, the 4th of August, was long after commemorated by the title of "Black Saturday." 1

Although the Articles were supported, encouraged by King James VI, they met with fierce opposition throughout Scotland.

1 - A history of the Scottish People, Rev Thomas Thomson. Vol V, pg 572