[FIFTY-FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveint at Edinburgh, the 20th day of Junii 1587, qwhair there was assemblit the King’s Commissioners, my Lords Chancellour and Blantyre, with the Commissioners with the Brethrene.
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveint at Edinburgh, the 20th day of Junii 1587, qwhair there was assemblit the King’s Commissioners, my Lords Chancellour and Blantyre, with the Commissioners with the Brethrene.
Exhortatione made be Mr David Lyndsay. Leets, Mr Nicoll Dalgleische, Patrick Galloway, Thomas Buchanane, and Andrew Melvill: The said Mr Andrew, be pluralitie of votis, was chosen Moderator,hac vice. At the said Mr Andrew his desyre, Mrs David Lyndsay, Nicoll Dalgleische, Patrick Galloway, Paull Fraser, Thomas Buchanan, Robert Pont, Robert Bruce, Robert Craigie, Walter Balcanquall, Patrick Simsone, James Brysone, Peter Blackburne, and Androw Hay, were nominat Assessors.
Sessio 2.
Mrs David Lyndsay and John Durie, qwho were direct to my Lord Secretar anent his Majestie’s Commissioners, reportit, That his Heines had nominat my Lords Secretar and Justice-Clark, qwha wald be present and concurre as their opportunitie might serve—alwayes willing the Assembly according to his Heines mynde, before any uther thing, be intreatit the cause of Mr John Cowper: Nottheless, after some reasoning, was content they sould be delayed till the morne, and that the brether qwho are on the conferrence sould meit and reasone something concerning that matter.
Anent the Books of the Assembly: Seing the King’s Majestie’s Commissioners hes offerit their concurrence to the recovering thereof, if it may be knowne in qwhais hands they are, The Moderator desyrit the brether that could give any light in this matter, and namelie Mr Patrick Gallaway, quho was direct in the last Assembly to the King’s Majestie to sute the delyverance of the said Register, and his Heines answer thereanent; qwho declareit his Majestie had promised to cause them be delyverit. Thairafter it was testified be John Braid, that at the last Assemblie, in his awne house, Mr Patrick Adamsone, Bischop of St Androis, in presence of David Fargysone,confessit where the same were, and at command obtained be the King’s Grace, he sould cause delyver the same: Lykeas it was testified by John Durie that he heard him lykewayes grant the having thereof: Qwhilks testificatione being considerit be the Assembly, they concludit that charge sould be gine against him; and for the better advyce in that matter, direct Mr David Lyndsay to my Lord Secretar; qwho returning with his answer, thocht meit ane supplicatione sould be gine to the Lords of Counsell to obtaine charges against the said Mr Patrick, and lykewayes that the Kirk sould of their awne charges and authoritie, according qwherunto the Kirk ordaynit ane supplicatione to be pennit, and gine to the Lords, the morne; and sicklyke ane charge to pass from this Assembly, chargeing the said Mr Patrick to exhibite the said booke before them, to be delyverit to the Kirk within thrie dayes after the charge, or to schaw ane reasonable cause why; and sicklyke to compear within the said space personallie, to answer for his absence from this Assemblie, and to such other accusationes as sould be layit to his charge, under the paine of the censures of the Kirk.
Sessio 3.
All quarters sall resorte to the Assemblie every day, at the dew houre appoynted therto, and remaine to the end every day, under the paine of the payment of ane groat,toties quoties.
Sessio 4.
It was thocht expedient, notwithstanding of the ordinance made yesternight against Mr Patrick Adamsone, for delyvering of the Register, That before the same be put to executione, ane humble supplication be made to the King’s Majestie for that effect, qwhilk the breither desyrit Mr David Lyndsay and John Duncansone to forme.
Forsuameikle as there hath been ane matter of grief conceived be the King’s Majestie againes Mrs John Cowper and James Gibsone, movit privilie to the Moderator; It is thocht expedient be the haill Assembly that the said cause be first privilie treattit and considerit be the Laird of Dune, Mrs Peter Blackburne, Johne Porterfield, Thomas Buchanane, David Lindsay, Nicoll Dalgleische, and David Fargysone, qwham the Assembly nominat to travell, reasone, and conferre with the saids pairties, and to sie if they cantake up the matter be their own advyce, utherwayes to propone the same to the full Assemblie, that the matter may be heard and reasonit there; and to that effect, ordaynit the saids brethrene to pass out of the Assemblie, and the saids Mrs John and James to passe with them.
Seeing his Majestie is now of perfect age, and ane Parliament is appoynted in the next moneth; It is thocht expedient that the acts of Parliament made be oure Soveraigne Lord, his Heines’ predecessor and Regent for the tyme, for the libertie of the trew Kirk of God and Christ’s religione presently professit within this realme, and for repressing of Papistrie and Idolatrie, collectit together and craved to be confirmed; and lykewyse the executione of the saids acts may be considerit, and what order aither excommunicatione or law shall be desyrit against the saids Papists and Idolaters, as also such lawes and constitutiones as are made to the derogatione of the said libertie, or to the prejudice or stay of the course of the Evangell, may be likewise collectit, to that effect their abrogatione may be sought: Qwhairunto they nominat the Laird of Dun, Mrs Robert Pont, Nicoll Dalgleische, David Lyndsay, and Paull Fraser.
Sessio 5.
The Commissione gine in the last Assemblie to the Presbytries of Glasgow and Strivilling, anent Mr David Cunnynghame, concernyng the sclander of adulterie with Elspeth Sudderland, or any uther persone, is continued.
Anent the diverse and grievous complaynts of syndrie breither against Mr Patrick Adamsone, Bischop of St Androis, at qwhais instance he is registrat at the horne for non-payment of their stipends assignit to them, and specially of Mrs William Strang, David Spense, Adam Johnstoune, and uthers, of the sclander that he lyes at the horne for not furnisching two gallons of wyne for the communione: This matter being heavilie regraitit to the King’s Commissioners, promise was made be the Pryor of Blantyre to communicat the matter to the rest of the King’s Majestie’s Commissioners, qwhais advyce for redress heirof he should report to the Assembly. As to the regraite of some breither, that pairtly be his rebellione and lying at the horne, pairtly be his suspensione, some divisione ryses, that certaine resorts not to his sermones nor to the administratione of the sacraments made be him or uther sarvice, as humiliatione—uthersrepairs thairto—so appeares some divisione qwhilk wad be redresst: The breither thinks meet, that, before they enter herein, some answer be reportit to the former complaint.
The matter of Mrs John Cowper and James Gibsone, be the votts of the Kirk, was committit fully to the Moderator and Assessors to conferr, consult, advyse, and, if they may, conclude and put finall end thereto.
Sessio 6.
His Majestie’s Commissioners being present, thocht meit, because Mr Patrick Adamson’s matter is civil, qwherin the King’s Majestie hes interes, that his Grace sould be forwarnit, qwhilk the Kirk promised to doe.
Anent the doubt proponit, if it be sclander to a Christiane to absent himselfe from the sermones, ministratione of the sacraments, or uther godlie exercises used be such as lyis at the King’s Majestie’s horne, and are suspendit from all functione of the ministrie? The Kirk answers, that there is no sclander in this cause, but be the contrare, it is sclanderous to a Christiane to resort to the exercises forsaid of such ane one as they know to be at the horne, and suspendit from all functione of the ministrie.
Sessio 7.
Anent the supplicatione gine in for Gilbert Lambe and certaine in company with him presently keepit in prisone in Citde in Spaine for the testimonie of the truth: The Assembly ordaynes the brethren of the ministrie universallie to recommend in their prayers the said Gilbert in particular and his companie in generall to God, and to crave their delyverance, if it be his pleasure, or ane finall perseverance and constancie to the end in the trew profession of the Evangell.
Sessio 8.
The breither of the West having admittit the Bischop of Glasgow to the temporalitie, the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdictione being devolved be him in the Kirk’s hand, and having receivit his obligatione thair, in caice the Generall Assembly sould not allow of such admissione, the same sould be undone; The haill matter being weyghit be the full number of the breither, they universallie concludit the said forme of admissione to be unlawfull, and ordaynit the brethrenadmitters, to urge him performe the heids of the said obligatione, anent the undoing and annulling of the said admissione.
Sessio 9.
No ministers of colledges or schooles shall receave in their colledges or schooles, any student or schollar, being of maturitie of age, quho refuses to subscryve the trew Religione presently establisched and professt, be the mercy of God, within this realme, or refuseing to participat the sacraments, under the paine of the censures of the Kirk; and farther, before any student be promovit to any degree in the universitie, that they shall,toties quoties, as they shall be promovit, subscryvede novo, utherwayes their promotiones to be stayit, under the paine forsaid; and that the presbytries be diligent to sie the executione of this act, as they will answer to God.
The Kirk within this realme hes advysit and found good, that the Presbitries, together with the Commissioners in all the pairts of the countrie, and every ane of them for their awne pairts, prescryve to every young man that is minister within such ane Presbytrie, ane pairt of Scripture, together with ane pairt of the commone places and contravertit heads of Religione, to be diligently read, considerit, and learnit be him, within such ane space of tyme as the Presbytrie thinks good to appoynt him; and that his diligence may the better appear unto the fruit thereof, at certaine tymes of the year, euery Presbytrie being convenit, take ane count of the young man of his trauells, be requyring of him in the pairt of scripture prescryvit to him—first, the soume and deductione thereof in maner: 2. The solid sence and meaning of these places qwhilk are most difficult to be understood: 3. A collatione of the sentences qwhilk by reading he may be able to gather out of that part of scripture; the qwhilk arguments may either serve to confirme the truth, or else to refute hereticall opiniones. As for the pairt of commone places and heads of religion prescryvit unto him, let him be ready to answer to questionyng and reasoning to the head thereupone, and so to be exercit in this kynde, not for a tyme only, but from tyme to tyme, qwhill he come to certaine maturitie and solidness in the scripture of God.
Sessio 11.
Anent the supplicatione made in name of the towne of Haddingtone, lamenting the away-taking of their presbytrie againes the orderof the last platt made be the Generall Kirk: The Assemblie examining the causes of the removeing thereof be the contrare, and finding the occasione thereof to haue beene for lacke of obedience and want of discipline, hes, at the earnest sute and craveing of Mrs Nicoll Hay and John Ker, Commissioners for the said towne, restorit the said Presbytrie, with condition and promise, that if there be not better order and discipline keepit be them in time comeing nor hes been heretofore, that the samen shall be removit, &c. The Kirk resolves that particular sessions of kirks and congregationes are, and should be subject to their presbytries, as hes been accordit of before be the act of the Assemblie.
Sessio 12.
William Chillane, reider at Auchtertoole, depryvit from his office and functione in the Kirk, in tyme comeing, for marrying William Kirkaldie, alias Ker, Laird of Grange, with Mistres Elizabeth Lyone,intra privatos parietes, without proclamation of bands; and, notwithstanding that Elspeth Leirmonth, daughter lawfull to Sir Patrick Leirmonth of Darcie, Knight, made lawful impediment in the Kirk of Glames.
Sessio 13.
Mr Robert Pont was recommended by the King’s Majestie to the bischopric of Caithness: The said Mr Robert, for cleiring himself of sclander, declareit, that for some loss and hurt done to him, in his trauell after diverse suits, gine in be him to the checker, this presentatione, without procurement of him, was put in his hand; and if the living might be brookit with safe conscience, and without sclander, desyreit their judgement, being desyreit to be minister at Dornoch, and to take visitatione; bot be command of the Kirk and for his office and charge, brook the living only? The Kirk referrs the answer to be gine to the King heiranent, to be advysit upon be Nicoll Dalgleische, Peter Blackburne, and David Fargysone, with the said Mr Robert.
Sessio 15.
Ane letter being direct be John Duncansone, bearing the King’s command to the Bischope, for delyverance of the books, at leist four of them, and that Mr George Young was stayit qwhill the saids books should be delyverit: The Kirk immediatly directitMrs James Nicolsone and Alexander Rawsone to my Lord Secretar, to the effect the samen might be presentit; and, after their directione, and reiterat direction of their breither, Mr Andrew Melvill and David Lyndsay, Maister George Young presentit to the sicht of the Kirk ffyve volumnes of their Acts, whereof a great pairt being mankit; and, after the sicht thereof, being redelyverit to the said Mr George: The haill brethren ordaynit ane heavie regrate to be made to his Majestie, in article, lamenting the away-taking and mutilating of the saids books, and to crave that the samen may be restorit; and also, that the saids books may be delyverit in the Kirk’s hands, to remain with them as their awne Register; namely, in respect of the answer returnit from my Lord Secretar, that his Majestie’s will was, that the Kirk sould have inspectione thereof as they have had adoe presentlie, and giue them up again.
Ane letter approvit be the Assemblie, and direct to his Majestie, anent Mr Robert Pont’s matter: tennorthereof:—
Sir,—Let it pleise your Heines; We have receavit your letter willing us to elect Mr Robert Pont to the Bishoprick of Caithness, vaickand be decease of umquhile Robert Earle of Marche, your Heines’ uncle. We praise God that your Majestie hes ane good opinione and estimatione of such a persone as we judge the said Mr Robert to be, qwham we acknawledge indeed alreadie to be a Bischope according to the doctrine of St Paull, and qualified to use the functione of ane pastor and minister at the kirk of Dornoche, or any uther Kirk within your realme, qwhan he is lawfully callit, and worthy to have ane competent living appoyntit to him therefore; as also to use the office of a Commissioner or Visitor in the boundes of Caithnes, if he be burdenit therewith. But as to that corrupt estate or office of them who hes been termit Bischops heretofore, we find it not agreeable to the word of God, and it hes been damnit in diverse uthers our Assemblies; naither is the said Mr Robert willing to attempt the samen in that manner: the qwhilk thocht good to signifie unto your Majestie, for answer unto your Heines’ letter of nominatione, and have ordaynit our breither to be appoyntit Commissioners to awaite upon the nixt Parliament, to conferr with your Heines and Counsell, if neid beis, heirupone. This, after offering our humble obedience, we earnestlie wische the Spirit of the Lord to assist your Heines in all godlie affaires. From our Generall Assemblie, the 28th of Junii 1587.
In respect of diverse conclusions of before, with the daily practise and examples sinsyne, the questione being reasonitde novo, If suspensione of ane minister from the functione of the ministrie for a tyme, for just causes, be repugnant to the word of God, or no?
It is found that the samen agries with the word of God and his scriptures, and therefore the acts made thereanent before, to stand in full strength, and not to be callit back againe in any wayes.
Sessio 16.
It is concludit that all pastors, of qwhatsomever sort they be, shall be subject to the censures and tryell of their breither, alsweill of the Presbytries as Synodall and Generall Assemblies, concernyng their lyfe, conversatione and doctrine; and such as refuises the tryell and censure, that the saids Presbytries, Synodall and Generall Assemblies, proceed against them.
John Erskine of Dune, Mrs Robert Pont, Andrew Melvill, David Lyndsay, Thomas Buchanane, Andrew Hay, Robert Bruce, John Robertsone, Alexander Lawsone, Robert Grahame, Patrick Gallaway, David Fargysone, Nicoll Dalgleische, John Porterfield, James Andersone, John Duncansone, Adam Johnstone, Walter Balcanquall, Andrew Clayhills, and John Brand, or any thirtiene of them, were ordaynit Commissioners to the Parliament.
Mr Andrew Melvill was ordayned to penne a favourable letter to the ministrie in Danskine, congratulating their embraceing of the trewth in the matter of the sacrament.
THE KING’S MAJESTIE’S FIVE ARTICLES.
1. If any controversie be, concernyng the Bischope of St Androis, that it be reasonit in his Majestie’s presence.
2. That the Bischope of Aberdeene be not intrestis[24]his jurisdictione and living, but the same to be exercit be himselfe, because the alleadgit sclander, qwhereby he was damnifyit of before, is sufficiently tryit and removit.
3. Concerning James Gibsone and Mr John Cowpar, that they acknowledge and confesse their publick offences and sclanders against his Majestie, and satisfy therefore as he shall think good, or utherwayes be depryvit from all functione in the Kirk.
4. Concernyng Mr Robert Montgomrie, that he be receavit, without farther ceremonie, to the fellowschip and favour of the Kirk.
5. Concerning the Laird of Fyntrie excommunicat, qwhilk was somewhat extraordinary, to be null.
Instructionsto the Commissioners appoyntit to wait on the Parliament.
Instructionsto the Commissioners appoyntit to wait on the Parliament.
1. As concernyng the King’s Majestie’s Articles: In the first two, let the judgement of the Kirk be followed and notified to his Majestie. As to the third, they shall travell by all good meanes possible to prease his Majestie in this matter, and bring it in oblivione; and failzieing thereof, in case they shall finde any good assured hope that the Kirk’s Articles shall be weill looked upone, and grantit to passe in Parliament, they shall prease to bring the matter in such ane mids as may best agrie with the honor of the ministrie, satisfying the offence of the godly and conscience of the brether themselues, against wham his Majestie hes taken offence, as may be that in speciall qwhilk his Hienes’ Commissioners send in wreit to ane of the saids brether, utherwayes, if they be urgit to the Articles as it stands, they shall leave the matter haill, and frie to be tryit be the Generall Assembly. As to the 4th, they shall dispence with Mr Robert Montgomerie in some ceremonies used in repentance, in case they find his Majestie willing to remitt somewhat of the rigour of His Majestie’s satisfactione cravit of the two brethren, be qwham he finds his Majestie offendit. As to the 5th, concernyng the Laird of Fyntrie, they shall schaw his Majestie that the Kirk hes appoyntit certaine of their brethren to sie qwhat effect the dealling of them that was appoyntit in the last Assemblie hes taken with him, and to travell farther be all good meanes with him to bring him to repentance to the bosome of the Kirk, qwhairby that sentence may be in very deed annullit: they shall admitt nothing hurtfull or prejudiciall to the discipline of the Kirk, as it is concludit according to the word of God in the Generall Assembly preceding the 84 year of God, but precisely seek the samen to be ratifyit and allowit, if possible may be; and finally, in all let God be feared, and a good conscience keepit, in procureing the weill of the Kirk, and taking away all impediments contrare thereto.
The next Assembly at Edinburgh, the first Tuesday of July.