[SIXTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk of Scotland, halden at Dundie the 7th of Marche 1598—In the qwhilk were convenit the King’s Majestie and Commissioners from all Schyres and Townes of the Countrey.
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk of Scotland, halden at Dundie the 7th of Marche 1598—In the qwhilk were convenit the King’s Majestie and Commissioners from all Schyres and Townes of the Countrey.
Sessio 1ma. March 7. Post Meridiem.
Exhortatione being made be Mr Robert Rollock, Moderator at the last Assembly, there was appointed upon the leets, Mrs Patrick Simpsone, David Fargusone, Peter Blackburne, James Robertsone, and Alexr. Wilkie; and, be pluralitie of votes, Mr Peter was electit Moderatorhac vice.
Sessio 2a. Martii 8. Ante Meridiem.
Anent the Commissione given to certaine brethren of the North, for absolving of the Earles of Huntlie, Angus, and Erroll, from the sentence of excommunicatione, the Assemblie ordaynes Mr Peter Blackburne, in name of the rest, to give in in write, the haill forme of their absolutione, satisfaction, and the Articles injoynit to them in the last Assembly, to the effect the same may be registrat in the Books of the Assemblie.
Sessio 3a. 8 Martii. Post Meridiem.
Because there is no compt tane of the Acts of every provinciall Assembly; therefore it is statute and ordaynit, that, in all tyme comeing, every provinciall Assembly within this realme send the acts of their Synod made sin the Generall Assemblie immediately preceding with their Commissioners, direct be them to the nixt Generall Assemblie, to the effect the brethren of the Generall Assemblie may take tryall and cognitione, that the proceedings of every particular Synod be donedecenter et ordine, and to allow or disallow of them as they shall think meet, and this order to begine at the nixt Generall Assemblie.Item, Because it was meint be some of the brethren, and found fault with, that such as uses to be appoynted Commissioners from the Synodalls to the Generall Assemblie, butt any reasonable causes, refuse to obey and accept their commission, qwherthrough it falls out oftentymes that at the GenerallAssemblies there inlaks Commissioners from Synods: Heirfore it is statute and ordaynit, that every Synod shall chuse out them that shall be thought most meit to come as Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie, qwho shall remaine untill the last day of the Assemblie inclusive; and to the effect they may pretend no reasonable excuse in the contrair, and speciallie of povertie, therefore it is statute, that in caice the Commissioners that are chosen may not commodiously awayt upon the Assemblie upon their awne expenses, then and in that caice, the rest of the qwhilk number he is chosen shall contribute unto his expenses, according to the abilitie of their livings, under the paine of tynsell of the tenth pairt of their stipend; qwhilks Commissioners being so furnished be a common contributione as said is, shall repare to the Generall Assemblie, and remaine unto the finall end thereof, under the paine of tynsell of the tenth pairt of his own stipend; and in caice either the Commissioner or the Brethren of his Synodall, through not obeying every ane, their proces of the premisses respective, incurring the danger of the penalties above rehearsit, and yet refuse to make payment of the saids penalties, viz. of the tent pairt of their stipends, then and in that caice, they shall be suspendit from their calling and functione, ay and qwhile they satisfie the samen.
Anent the summons raisit at the instance of the Synodall of Fife against Andrew Arnot, minister of Scotlandwell, cravand the said Andrew, conforme to his promise, to make provisione for the kirk of Auchtermoonsie, one of the kirkes of the said ministrie: The said Andrew Arnot being callit, compearit and declareit, that he promised to make sufficient provisione to the said kirke, provyding alwayes he were releivit of the payment of his third, qwhilk he pays presently to Mr Robert Inchaw, qwhilk promise he presently ratified, and bound himself to make provisione for the said kirke immediately after the dissolving of the Assembly, he being releivit of the payment of his third as said is.
Sessio 4a. Martii 9.
The Commissioners appoyntit in the last Generall Assemblie for planting of the Townes of Edinburgh, Dundie, and Saint Androis, and such uther affaires, as at maire lenth is conteind in the said commissione, and callit to giue ane accompt of such things as had beene done be them be vertew of their commission forsaid, MrJames Nicolsone, in name of the rest, producit a Book, containing ane haill registre of their haill proces and proceedings since the acceptatione of their commission, qwhilk was publickly read in presence and audience of the haill Assemblie; and because there was some of the brethren that thought themselves grievit at certaine of thir proceedings, Therefore it was thought expedient that the brethren after following, sould cognosce upon the saids grieves and commissioners’ answers thereto, qwhilk both sould be given in write before them, and thereafter report to the haill Assemblie, what they fand therein; They are to say, Mrs George Monro, James Dundas, Robert Howie, Duncan Davidsone, William Dowglass, Androw Milne, Androw Lambe, James Robertsone, William Rynde, Archibald Moncreiffe, Alexander Lyndsay, David Fargusone, Robert Wilkie, William Cranstoune, David Spence, John Knox, Gavin Hamilton, John Hall, John Spotswood, Patrick Simpsone, Robert Darioch, Harie Lewingstone, David Barclay, Hew Fullartone, and John Welsh.
Grieves to be proponit to his Majestie.
1. To craue of his Majestie ane reliefe of this present taxatione to such of the ministrie as possesses small benefices within three hundreth marks, seeing they are not able to be sustenit upon the same.
2. To craue, in generall for the haill ministrie, that they be not troublit with the taxationes in no tyme coming, but that the officers that ingathers the same, charge the taxmen immediatelie qwho are bound to relieve the ministrie of their taxatione, because so long as the Commissioners charges their taksmen, not only it averts them from their calling, but also breeds a grudge betwixt them and their parochiners.
3. To craue a redress of the buriall, that ane act of Parliament may be made, discharging burialls in the kirks.
4. To craue ane redress anent adulterous marriages qwher two persones, both divorcit for adulterie committit either with uther, craues the benefite of the Kirk to be joynit in marriage.
5. To craue his Majestie, what order shall be tane anent the relaxatione of such murtherers from excommunicatione as are already relaxit from the horne, and yet hes not satisfyit the partie, qwhilk is a token of no penitence.
6. To advyse with his Majestie of the carying of profest witches from towne to towne, to try witchcraft in wthers, be lawfull and ordinar tryall of witchcraft or not.
7. Anent laik patronages, to lament unto his Majestie the great abuse qwhilk the late act of Parliament hes brocht in, giving licence to the patrone to possesse the fruites of the benefice, in caice he present ane qwalified man, and the same be not admitted be the Kirk, under cullour qwherof they use to present ane qualified man to the presbytrie, and hes him sworne to sett back ane tack of the fruits of the benefices to the patrone, qwheron, albeit the persone presentit be qualified, yet the Kirk cannot admitt him, in respect to the impedimen forsaid, qwherthrough both the patrone uplifts the fruits of the benefice, and the Kirk lys destitute; therefore to crave redress.
Sess. 5. Martii 9, [Post Meridiem.]
Anent the grieves given in to his Majestie before noon, his Majestie being present gave his answer asfollows:—
To the first and second, his Majestie desyred the Commissioners to be deput from this Assemblie, to give in ane supplication to the Councill, anent the same, qwhereunto his Majestie should hold hand, and in the meantyme promised to cause stay all farther executione against such of the ministrie as were at the Assembly presently, qwhill the 15th of Apryle nixt to come.
Anent burialls; his Majestie thought good that ane supplicatione should be given in to the next Parliament, craving that for the avoyding of burialls in Kirks, every nobleman sould bigg ane sepulture for himselfe and his familie.
Anent adulterous marriages; his Majestie thought good that ane supplicatione should be given in to the next Parliament, craving such marriages to be declairit null in all tyme coming, and the bairnes gotten therein, bastards.
Anent murtherers; his Majestie declared, when any murtherer is relaxit from the horne, upon cautione to underly the law, that he is not, therefore, simpliciter relaxit, but to ane day to byde tryall of his fault, and therefore thinks that the Kirk may continow in their censures against such ane persone, and deny him any benefite of the Kirk, untill they see evident tokens of repentance in him, the partie satisfyed, and thereupon ane remission attayned.
Anent tryall of witchcraft, his Majestie declarit, that, be ane act of the last Parliament, it is remittit to certaine of his Heines’ Councill, certaine ministers and advocats, to conclude upon all solide order anent tryall of witches, and to advyse whether the forsaid carrying of witches is permissive or not: touching the qwhilk, the Assemblie ordaynit Mrs Patrick Galloway and John Duncansone to hold his Majestie in remembrance.
Anent the abuse in laick patronages, his Majestie thocht good lykewayes that ane supplicatione sould be given in to the next Parliament for redress thereof.
Because it was reportit in the Assemblie, that albeit sundry persones wer convict of witchcraft, nevertheless, the civill magistrate refusit not only to punische them, conforme to the lawes of the country, but also, in contempt of the same, setts the persones at liberty, qwhilks were convict of witchcraft;—therefore the Assemblie ordaynes that, in all tyme coming, the presbytrie proceed in all severitie with their censures against such magistrats as shall sett at liberty any persone or persones convict of witchcraft hereafter.
Item, Because diverse persones, with ane preposterous haist, proceed to the bond of matrimonie, without any lawfull proclamation of their bands, qwherthrough the ordinances of the Kirk are highly contemnit; Therefore it is statute and ordaynit, that no persones be coupled together in marriage, without they be thryce lawfully proclaimed at their awne paroche kirk, according to the consuetude observit within the realme; and in caice of contraveining the same, that the minister be depryvit of his office, and the parties ordayned to satisfie the Kirk, be publick repentance.
Anent burialls: It is ordaynit that no picturs or images be carried about in burialls, under the paine of the censures of the Kirk.
Item, Because it was regraitit, that certain of the ministrie being beneficit persones, hes sett tacks and assedationes of the fruits of their benefice, and thereafter hes obtaynit licence of transportatione from their kirks, so that the same, be reasone of the tacks sett be them, remaines continuallie unplantit, for laick of provisione; Therefore, it is statute and ordaynit that, in tyme coming, no minister get licence of transportatione from his kirk, before it be tryit that he hes not hurt the benefice from the qwhilk he craves to be transportit, be setting tacks of the fruits of the same; and if thetacks that were sett before his entrie to the said benefice, expyrit in his tyme, that he hes renewed no old tack, butt consent of the Generall Assemblie.
Item, Because for laick of moyen, sundrie of the ministrie hes not as yet obtainit designatioune of their manses and gleibs, Therefore it is ordaynit that every minister, qwhilk is not yet possessit with his manse and gleib, obtaine possession of the same, betwixt and the next Assemblie; and in caice the persones in qwhois favours the designatioune is grantit, be not able, through povertie, to await upon the law for obtaining possessione of the same, that the rest of the brethren of his Presbytry concurr and help him with expenses for obtayning of the same.
Sess. 6a. Martii 10. Ante Meridiem.
Anent the proceeding of the Commissioners appoyntit in the last Generall Assemblie, qwhilk they did anent the examinatione of the depositione of Mr John Rutherford, and the planting of the ministrie of St Androis: the Assemblie ratifies, approves, and allows their proceedings therein. And farder, for reasonable causes moving them, ordaynes Mr Robert Wallace to be relaxit from the suspensione from his ministry, pronuncit in their decreit against him, be satisfyand my Lord of Memuor, be the advyce of Mrs David Lyndsay, Robert Bruce, and Robert Rollock, to the effect he may be placit to serve in such partes qwher the Kirk shall think his travells to be best imployit. And as concernyng Mr John Rutherfurd’s proces, and the rest of the thinges done in St Androis be the saids Commissioners, Mrs David Black, John Carmichaell, Robert Durie, Alexander Forsyth, and the rest of the brethren of the Presbytrie of St Androis that were there present, after reasonyng of such things qwherof they had not been of before resolvit, declareit themselves satisfyit therein.
Because it was reportit be the Commission of the Generall Assemblie, that the constant platt for planting every particular kirk, be the tacksmen who hes the haill teinds in their hands, and refuseth to condescend to any substantiall order anent the planting of the ministrie, without some securitie were made unto them anent the remanent of their teinds; Therefore, the Assemblie thocht good to consider qwhat be the conditiones cravit be their tacksmen, in caice of augmentatione of the dewtie of their tacks for sustentatione of the ministrie: To the qwhilk it was answerit be the Visitors ofMorray and Aberdeene, that the taxmen desyrit ane perpetuitie of their tacks, be renewing thereof at their outruning, butt gressume. The lyke offerit Angus, Clydsdale; Gallaway, Fyfe, and Lawthiane, wald make no offer; upon consideratione qwhereof, the brethren desyrit his Majestie that ane law might be made anent the augmentation of the dewties of the tacks for sustentatione of the ministrie, To the qwhilk his Majestie offerit willingly to deall with the tacksmen in such sorte that they should be forced to augment the dewtie of their tacks to ane reasonable and competent living for ane minister at every kirke, upon condition they had some reasonable ease of their teinds; and for effectuating thereof, the Assemblie ordaynes every minister to give in ane particular overture in wryte to the Commissioners quwhilk shall be appoyntit be the Generall Assemblie, quhat is the just valour of the teinds of his paroche, to quham they are sett, for quhat dewtie, to quham the deutie is payit, and quhat better every ane can give for planting of his awne kirk, to the effect his Majestie, with advyce of the saids Commissioners, may take ane solide order anent the sufficient planting of every particular kirk betwixt and the nixt Generall Assemblie.
Sess. 7. Martii 10.
The brethren appoynted to try the proceedings of the Commissioners of the last Assemblie, and the grieves given in against the same, with the Commissioners’ answers thereto, declairit that they had considerit the haill grieves given in be the Synodall of Lawthiane, and the Commissioners’ answers made to the same, and that they thought it expedient, so that it were the will of the Assemblie, that the saids grieves and answers sould be buried;—nottheless, the Assemblie, for the satisfaction of the haill breither, thocht good, that the saids grieves and answers sould be read in audience of the haill Assemblie; qwhilk being done, after voteing, it was concluded that the proces and proceedings of the saids Commissioners sould be ratified in that part, and the grieves and answers buried and obliterat, for continuance of peace in the Kirk.
Sess. 8. 11 Martii.
The brethren, after revyseing of the haill proceedings of the Commissioners of the last Assemblie, ratifies, allowes, and approves the same, and ordaynes the haill grieves given in and answers made thereto, to be buried and put out of memorie. For better executioneof their proceedings, the Generall Assemblie ordaynes Mr Robert Rollock, David Lyndsay, Robert Pont, Patrick Galloway, John Duncansone, James Nicolsone, Thomas Buchanan, George Gladstones, or any fyve of them, to conveine with his Majestie, to put the decreit of the saids Commissioners, anent the planting of Edinburgh, to farther executione, and place the ministers of Edinburgh at their particular flockes; ordayning likewise the ministers of Edinburgh to obey the said decreit, be accepting every ane of them their particular flocks, under the paine of deprivatione of them from their ministry, and in caice of disobedience in their parts, that the saids Commissioners depryve them from their functione of the ministry; and thereafter, ordaynes the saids Commissioners to plant the kirke of Edinburgh with such of the wysest and most discreet of the brethrene as they shall think most meit, to the glory of God and edificatione of the particular flocks within the toune of Edinburgh; and in the meintyme, qwhile the said Commissioners convene for performing of the premisses, the brethren ordayns the ministers of Edinburgh to continue in the preaching of the word and ministratione of the sacraments.
Sessio 10. Martii 13.
Because syndrie of the brethren desyrit to be satisfyit of his Majestie’s minde be his awne mouth, towards certaine of the ministrie, in speciall towards the ministrie of Edinburgh, anent qwhatsoever accidents that hes fallen out thir two yeares bygane; his Majestie, for making his mynde mair clearly to be understood be the haill brethren, declairit himselfe to be content and satisfyed with the ministrie of Edinburgh, and that his Hienes did bear no grudge nor evill will to any of them for any accidents qwhilk hes fallen out in any tyme bygane, and that the same sould never be rememberit be his Majestie in any tyme coming, but that his Hienes and they,{blank space}: to the qwhilk the ministers of Edinburgh willingly consentit, sould never call any of these accidents fallin out in any tyme comeing to remembrance, neither make mention of the same in private speeches or publicke sermones, in any tyme hereafter.
The qwhilk day, in presence of the haill Assemblie, the King’s Majestie having declarit his advyce anent the necessitie of Commissioners, to be appoyntit be the Generall Assemblie, to awayte and concurr with his Majestie for bringing to ane finall end, the langsomewarke of the constant platt for planting of ministers at the burghes within this realme, in caice any of their places shall happen to vaick before the next Generall Assemblie, for awayting upon the Parliament, if any shall be, and craving the redress of such things qwherwith the ministers finds themselves grievit, and finally, for redressing of such enormities, and awayting upon such good occasiones as may fall out before the next Generall Assemblie; desyring, therefore, that the brethren wald consider the necessitie forsaid, and according to their discretione, qwhither if it were expedient that ane Commission sould be grantit to certaine of the maist wyse and discreit of the brethren for the causes forsaids: the qwhilk his Majestie’s advice the Assemblie thinks very necessar and expedient, and therefore hes given and grantit, lykeas, by the tenor heirof, gives and grants, their full power and commission to Messrs Peter Blackburne, James Nicolsone, Andrew Milne, Alex. Douglass, John Ramsay, Thomas Buchanane, David Fargusone, William Cranstoune, George Gladstones, Alexr. Lyndsay, Harie Livingstone, Robert Pont, David Lyndsay, Robert Rollock, John Hall, John Clappertoune, John Knox, Gavine Hamiltone, Andrew Knox, and his Majestie’s and the Prince’s ministers, or any nyne of them, to conveine with his Majestie, at such tyme and place as shall be found expedient; with power to them, or any nyne of them, to concurr with his Majestie, anent the setting downe and concluding of the solid grounds and fundaments of the constant platt, and qwhat securitie shall be made to the tacksmen for the remanent of their teinds; qwhilks grounds being sett downe be them, they shall make every Presbytrie within this realme privie to the same; and in caice the saids Presbytries, be their Commissioners or be themselves, after visitatione of the saids grounds and conclusiones, ratifie and approve the same, with power to the saids Commissioners, or any nyne of them, to conveine thereafter with his Majestie and the said Lords of his Privie Councill, having the power of the Parliament to that effect, and there to put ane finall end and conclusion to the constant platt, and solide planting of every particular Kirke within this realme; with power, also, to the saids Commissioners, or any nyne of them, to awayt upon the Parliament, if any shall be before the nixt Assemblie, and give in the grieves of the samyn, desyrand them to be redrest, and to give their advyce to his Majestie for avoyding or eschewing any danger or inconvenient qwhilk may be lyklie to fall out in prejudice of the Kirke; and lykewise,in caice his Majestie find him grievit, or crave redresse of any enormitie done to his Hienes be any of the ministrie, with power to them, or any nyne of them, to sit and cognosce upon the same, qwherein for better informatione of the cryme or fact qwhilk shall happen to be committit, they shall crave the advyce of the most discreit of the Presbytrie qwhere the persone offender dwells, as they shall think expedient, and thereafter proceed in taking tryall of the fact be themselves, and conclude therein as shall be most expedient to the glory of God, and the peace and quyetness of his Kirke within this realme: And, finallie, with expresse power and command to the saids Commissioners, to propone to his Majestie at their conventiones, the petitiones and grieves, alswell of this Assemblie in generall, as of every member thereof in particular, as shall be meint unto them,promitten de rata, &c.
Anent the forsaid Commission grantit for redress of such things as shall happen his Majestie to be offendit with in the persone of any of the ministrie: his Majestie declairit in presence of the haill Assemblie, that albeit the haill power of cognoscing upon such matters be devolvit in the persones of the Commissioners qwho should concurr with his Heines to that effect, nevertheless, his Majestie’s mynde is, no wayes to trouble the Commissioners with any such matters, unless first it be notoriously knawne, that the presbytrie, quhere the offender maks residence, both has gotten knowledge of the fact, and either has altogether neglectit the tryall thereof, or else not satisfy his Majestie with the punischment imponit to the offenders be them.
Sess. 11. 13 Martii.
Forsuameikle as the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie, at the Parliament halden in December last bypast, upon ane earnest zeall quhilk they did alwayes bear to the will of the Kirk, had given in certaine article to the Lords of Parliament, concernying the liberty of the Kirk, and in speciall had cravit that the ministrie, as representing the trew Kirk of God within this realme, and so being the third estate of the realme, might have vote in Parliament according to the loveable acts and constitutions of before made in Parliament, in favours of the freedome and libertie of the Holy Kirk, qwhilks their travells and indeavours, proceeding alwayes upon ane godly intentione, they submittit to the censures of this present Assemblie, desyring the brethren to allow or disallow the same, as theyshould think most expedient, for the glory of God and establisching of the trew religione within this realme: Qwherupon the brethren being ryply advysit, allowit the honest and godly intentione of the Commissioners in craving vote in Parliament for the ministrey, as conforme and agrieing with sundrie uther Acts of the Assemblies proceeding, in the qwhilks it hes been found expedient that the Kirk sould sute vote in Parliament.
Forsuameikle as his Majestie is willing to utter his good intention that he hes alwayes borne to the establisching of the trew Kirk of God within this realme, declareit, that for the better performance thereof, his Hienes had assistit the Commissioners of the last Assemblie in craving vote in Parliament in name of the Kirk, qwhilk their sute, albeit in some part, and as it were, in a certain manner, granted be the Lords of Parliament, yet the acceptatione therof, the forme and haill circumstances of the persones were reservit to this Generall Assemblie, to be acceptit or refuisit as the Kirk should think expedient: And seeing his Majestie had anticipat the appoynted tyme of the Assemblie, and desyrit the brethren to conveine at this present tyme, especially for the causes forsaid; therefore his Majestie desyrit that the brether wold enter in a particular consideratione of the haill poynts of the said act in every particular poynt thereof, and first to reason in publick audience of the haill Assemblie, qwhither it was lawful and expedient, that the ministrie, as representing undoubtedly the Kirk within this realme, should have vote in Parliament or not?
The said question being at lenth reasoned and debaititin utramque partem, in presence of the haill brethrene, and therafter votit, The Generall Assemblie votes, finds, and concludes, that it is necessar and expedient for the well of the Kirk, that the Ministry, as third Estate of this realme, in name of the Kirk, have vote in Parliament.
Sess. 12. Martii 14.
Concerning the number of the ministry that should have vote in Parliament in name of the Kirk, it was lykewise concludit and thought expedient, that alse many of them sould be chosen for the vote in Parliament as was wont of old, in the tyme of the Papisticall Kirk, to be Bischops, Abbots, and Priors, that had the lyke libertie, viz. to the number of fyftie and ane, or thereby.
Item, After reasoning, it was votit and concludit that the electionof such of the ministrie as should have vote in Parliament aucht to be of ane mixt qualitie, and appertayne pairtly to his Majestie, and pairtly to the Kirk; and because, throw shortness of tyme, the brethren could not be perfectly resolvit in the remanent heads and circumstances concernyng the office of him that should have vote in Parliament, viz.de modo eligendi, of his rent, of the continuance of his office, qwhither he should be chosenad pœnamor not, of his name, of the cautiones for the preservation of him from corruptione, and such uther circumstances; Therefore, the Assemblie ordaynes every Presbytrie to be ryply and throwghly advysit with the particular heads above written, and thereafter to convocat their Synodall Assemblies through the haill countrey upon ane day, qwhilk shall be the first Tuesday of Junii nixt to come, and there, after new reasoning and advysement with the particular heads above written, that every Synodall choose out three of the wysest of their number, qwho shall be ready upon his Majestie’s advertisement, qwhilk shall be upon ane moneth’s warning at the leist, to convein with his Majestie, together with Doctors of the Universities, viz. Mrs Andrew Melvill, John Johnstone, Robert Rollock, Patrick Chaip, Robert Harvie, Robert Wilkie, and James Martine, such day and place as his Majestie shall think expedient; with power to them to treat and reasone and conferre upon the saids heads and uthers appertayning therto, and in caice of agreement and uniformitie of opinions, to vote and conclude the haill questione concernyng vote in Parliament; utherwayes, in caice of discrepance and variance, to referr the conclusione thereof to the nixt Generall Assemblie.
For better observing of the Presbytries, It is statute and ordaynit, that every Presbytrie shall assemble themselves ance orderly, ilk week in their full number, at the leist so many of them as hes their residence within aucht myles to the place of the ordinarie conventione of the Presbytrie: That every member of the Presbytrie study the text qwherupon the exercise is to be made: That ane common head of religion be intreatit every moneth in ilk Presbytrie, both by way of discourse and disputatione: That every pastor have ane weekly exercise of instructione and examinatione of ane pairt of his congregatione in the Catechisme; Qwhilk haill heads are ordained to be observed under the paine of incurring the censures of the Kirk.
Sess. ultima. 14 Martii, Post Meridiem.
The brethren having read and considerit the paines and travells taken be Mr Patrick Scharp, Principall of the Colledge of Glasgow, and his Lessones upon the Catechisme and grounds of religione, allowes of the same, and thinks them very necessar and profitable; and therefore ordaynes them to be printed.
Anent the protestation given in be Mr John Davidsone, for himself and in name of certaine uther brethren as he alleadgit, protesting that this Assemblie was not ane frie Assemblie, qwhilk his protestatione he desyrit to be insert in the Books of the Assemblie:
It being inquyrit if any man wald adhere to the said protestatione, there was nane found that wald adhere to the samen, nor was of the said Mr John’s opinion thereanent; and therefore the brethren dischargit the Clerk to insert the same in the Books of the Assemblie.
Because the questione anent summar excommunicatione, for lake of tyme, cannot be commodiously intreatit at this present, therefore the brethren continows the same to nixt Assemblie: in the meintyme suspends all summar executione.
Because there hes no order [been] sett downe hitherto anent the number of Commissioners to be direct from every Presbytrie to the Generall Assemblie, Therefore it is statute and ordaynit that in all tyme coming, three of the wysest and gravest of the brethren shall be direct from every Presbytrie at the maist, as Commissioners to every Assemblie, and that nane presume to come butt commission, except they have ane speciall complaint, and that the Clark of the Assemblie take heed to receave no mair in commission but three alanarlie, as said is; and lykewayes that ane be direct from every Presbytrie in name of Barrones, and ane out of every Burgh except Edinburgh, qwhilk shall have power to direct two Commissioners to the Generall Assemblie.
Anent the supplicatione given in be the Towne of Dundie, craving ane uther minister to be appoyntit unto them in place of William Chrystisone, who through age is not able to discharge his calling: The brethren thought their desyre reasonable; and having appoyntit on the leets Mr John Hall, minister at Leith, and Mr Robert Howie, Principall of the New Colledge of Aberdeen, be pluralitie of votes, Mr Robert Howie was chosen to be minister of Dundie, and ordainit to be transportit with all possible diligence.
Because it was reportit that the ministrey of Orknay had dilapidat their benefices be selling of tacks of the rent of the same, to the great hurt and prejudice of the kirks, Therefore it is statute and ordaynit, that nane of the ministrie of Orknay or Zetland sett any tacks of any pairt of the fruits of their benefices, nor yet give their consent to the tacks that shall be sett be wthers, in ony tyme coming, under the paine of deprivatione.
Because it was reportit be certaine of the brethrene that notwithstanding of the acts of the Assemblies proceeding against saillors, and traffiquers with Spaine, the said traffique was not indmittit, Therefore the Assembly ordaines the acts made anent the said traffiquers to be put in farther executione in all poynts, butt any respect of persons.
The Assemblie hes ordained the Presbytries of Dundee and Arbroth to summond before them the Countess of Huntlie, Sutherland, and Caithness, to subscryve the Confessione of Faith, under the paine of excommunicatione, qwhilks summonds shall be execute be Mrs William Paipe, qwho shall summond the Ladie Caithness—Alexander Douglass, the Ladie Huntly—and George Munro, the Ladie Sutherland.
The brethren ordaynes the next Generall Assemblie to be halden at Aberdeen, the first Twesday of July 1599.