[THIRTIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, halden and begun at Edinburgh the 7th of August 1574: In the whilk war present, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Johne Dunkansone, Moderator.
The Generall Assembly, halden and begun at Edinburgh the 7th of August 1574: In the whilk war present, Barrones, Bischops, Superintendants, Commissioners to plant Kirks, Commissioners of Provinces, Townes, Kirks, Universities, and Ministers. Johne Dunkansone, Moderator.
Sessio 1.
The Assembly, understanding that be deceiss of John Gray, their late Clark, the said office of clarkship is vacand, and nane as yet is provided thereto; and therefore before that any proceeding be, it is necessar the said rowme be filled, hes appointit their brethren underwritten, viz. My Lord Deane of Aberdeen, Andrew Hay, James Lowsone, Alexander Arbuthnot, Principal of the Colledge of Aberdein, James Melvill, Clement Little, and David Lyndsay, Minister at Leith, (all Ministers,) to appoint the leitts of them of qwhais number the clark is to be chosen: Qwhilk brethren, all in ane voyse, nominat Mr James Ritchie, George M‘Esone, William Patersone, wryter, Patrick Fylder, servant to Alexander Hay, Clark of the Secret Councill, to be the leits, of qwhilk number the Clark of the said Assembly is to be electit; and in the meane tyme, qwhill the Clark be chosen and receavit, the said Assembly hes ordainit Mr Andrew Milne to supply the place.
Sessio 3.
Anent the creatione of ane Clark of the said Generall Assemblieof the Kirk, it was Votit through the haill Assemblie and concludit, that of the four persons appointit on the leits, Mr James Richie, be reasone the greatest part thereof gave their consent to him, sould be clark, who, in presence of the haill Assembly, solemnly beand sworne to use the said office of clarkship of the Kirk faithfully, made promise to doe the same, and acceptit the said office upon him.
Forswameikle as it is understand to the said Assembly, that diverse ministers within this realme, used the office of Collectorie and Chamberlanrie under bishops and uthers beneficed persones, wherethrough they are avocat from their cures, and giues great occasione to sclander the Kirk; Therefore it is statute and ordainit in this present Assemblie, that from this tyme furth, no minister within this realme, use or exercise the office of Chamberlanrie or Collectorie, under whatsumever beneficed men, whereby they may be abstractit from their vocatione; and the contraveeners heirof to be depryvit of their office, and secludit therefrae.
Sessio 6.
Articles proponit to my Lord Regent’s Grace.
1. That stipends be grantit to Superintendants in all tyme comeing, in all countries destitute thereof, Qwhether it be where there is no Bischops, or where there is Bischops, and may not discharge their cure, as the Bischops of St Androis and Glasgow.
2. That in all Burrowstounes, where the ministers thereof are displacit and serves at uther kirks, that their ministers who servit them before be restorit againe to wait on their cures, and they be not oblidged to any uther kirk, or else that uthers be plantit in the saids touns.
3. That his Grace will giue commissione to certaine gentlemen in euery countrie, that incest, adultrie, witchcraft, and uther sic odious cryms qwhairwith the haill countrey is replenischit, may be punischit.
4. In euery kirk destitute of ministers, sic persons as are present and readie to be plantit, be placit, and stipends grantit unto them qwhais names shall be gine up be the Bischops, Superintendants, and Commissioners.
5. In respect that the ecclesiasticall functione is only distinct offices, of teaching, the Doctor that interprets the Scriptures, andthe Minister, to preach and apply the same; his Grace will take ordor that Doctors may be placeit in Universities, and stipends granted unto them, wherby not only they who are presently placeit may have occasion to be diligent in their cure, but also wher learnit men may have occasion to seek places in Colledges within this realme.
6. That his Grace will take ane generall order with the puire, and speciallie in the Abbayes, sic as Aberbrothoc and uthers, conforme to the act made at Leith; and in speciall to discharge teind sybows, leeks, kaill, onzions, be ane act of Secret Councill, whill ane Parliament be conveint, where they may be simpliciter discharged.
7. That his Grace will grant commissione to certane persons in every diocie to sit in causes of divorcement where the parties are poore.
8. That his Grace wald provide qualified persones to vaikand Bishopricks.
9. That his Grace wald cause the buiks of the Assignatione of the Kirk to be delyvered to the Clerk of the Generall Assembly.
Sessio 7.
Forsuameikle as it is understand to the Generall Assembly of the Kirk, that there is diverse persones who, dureing their wyfe’s tyme committs adulterie with other men’s wyfes, and thereafter, after their wyfe’s decease, marryes them wham they of before have polluted in adulterie; Therefore it is statute and ordainit be this present Assembly, that Bishops, Superintendants, and others Commissioners of provinces, charge all sic persones, so joynit in that sclanderous and unlaufull band, to separate themselves and abstaine from others, unto the tyme it be decydit be the Judge Ordinar, if the said marriage be lawfull or not, under the payne of excommunicatione to be execute against disobeyars.
Sessio 8.
Touching the complaint made upon the Bischop of Dunkeld for ministration of the holy supper upon wark-dayes at the kirks within his jurisdictione; It is thought good be the Generall Assembly that the said Bischope forbear the ministration of the said sacrament upon wark-dayes, and cause it to be ministrat uponSabbath dayes, after the order of the rest of the kirks within this realme.
Sessio 9.
Commissioners war appointit to visit warks that shall be heirafter proponit to be printed.Item, Uthers were appointit to sicht the history of Job compylit be Mr Patrick Adamsone in Latine verse.
For avoiding of Simonie within the haill kirks, the haill Assemblie of this Kirk, as in ane voice, hes votit, concludit, and decreitit, that all sic persones as either bys or sells benefices, or useing any uther kind of cowping thereof, directly or indirectlie, sall be depryvit of all kinde of functione within the Kirk, and the discipline of the Kirk strike upon them with all kinde of rigour and extreamitie;—and the buyers, sellers, or utherwayes cowpers of the benefices, to tyne the same for ever.
Sessio 10.
Qwhither if the parochiners of a towne, or the provest and baillies thereof, aucht to have the election of their own belman and clark? It is answerit, that sic as payes them sould choose them.
The brethren hes thought good, that, in case of any Parliament to be halden, or any uther weightie cause requirand necessary the presence of the bodie of this haill Assemblie, That the Superintendant of Lawthiane, Mr James Lawsone, minister of Edinburgh, Mr David Lyndsay, minister of Leith, make lawfull premonition and advertisement to their brether to be present upon sic competent space before as they sall think needfull; Qwhilk conventione of before shall be recountit for ane Assemblie.
That absents of this Assemblie be summoned to the next Assemblie, to hear them convict of absence, and punishment to be joynit to them at the sicht of the Kirk.