Mrs Henrie Fullartone.Thomas Hague.
Mr Dougal Campbell.
Aberbrothock.
Mr Thomas Glover.
Dundie.
Mr David Lyndsay.
Mr John Scrymgeour.
St Androis.
Mrs Wm. Wedderburne.Peter Bruce.
Mrs David Wilkie.David Kynneir.
Perth.
Mrs Thomas Ross.James Ross.
Mrs Alex. Balnauis.Patrick M‘Gregour.
Merss.
Mrs John Spottswood.John Gibsone.
Mr Wm. Struther.
Irvine.
Mrs Robert Boyde.James Montgomrie.
Mrs Mal. Hamiltoun.Rot. French.
Lanrick.
Mrs George Clidesdaill.David Lyndsay.
Mr David Rodger.
Acta Sessione 6.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Alexander Stewart of Gairlies, Provost of Dumfries, in name and behalf of the councill and commontie of the said towne, makand mentione, that qwhere [be] the transportatione of Mr Hew Fullertone, sometyme minister at their said kirk, the estate of their congregatione is altogether desolate in such sort, that for inlaike of ane pastor qwho should attend upon their flock, and to caire the weill of their soules, they are not only depryvit of the spirituall food and comfort of the word, but also their towne is become ane seat of excommunicat Papists and Jesuites; desyrand therfor this Assemblie to consider their miserable estate, and to provyde some qualified men to be their pastor; and in speciall, ane of the leits given in be them, viz. Mrs David Barclay, Wm. Arthure, Alex. Scrymgeour, Wm. Watsone, or Hew Fullartone; promising that not only they wald be reverent hearers of the word, but also that they wald assist and concur with him that shall be nominat to be their pastor, in the executione of discipline of the Kirk to the uttermost of their power; as at maire lenth is containitin their said supplicatione: The Assemblie, after voteing, hes chosen Mr Wm. Arthure to be minister at Dumfreis, quham they ordaine and appoynt to be minister at the said kirk, after incalling upon the name of God.
The said day it was thocht good be the brethren, to be meinit, that notwithstanding his Majestie’s good meaning and intention to have all the kirks within this realme sufficiently plantit with ministers with competent livings appoyntit for them, and albeit it was provydit be the act of Februar, and approvit in Parliament, that all the thirds of the benefices sould be applyit to the wse of the ministry ay and qwhill the kirks were plantit, and that, pensiones given in prejudice thereof should be null, yet be importune suiting, ane great part of the saids thrids are disponit in pensione, to the great hinderance not only of the present provisione of the ministry, but also of the constant platt qwhilk his Majestic intends; desyrand therefore that his Majestie were informit thereof, and tak such order that the saids dispositiones made in contrair the said act of Februar should be retreatit, and that command sould be given to the modifiers of the platt of this instant year, to assigne out of the saids pensiones for planting of kirks, notwithstanding of the saids dispositiones: The qwhilk his Majestie maist willingly grantit, and promised to stay all further giftes in all tyme coming.
Item, The Assemblie thocht expedient to adjoyne and nominat wthers out of the number of the brethren to be adjoynit to these, qwhilks were nominat be the Commissioners of Provinces conveint at Halyrudehouse, the 15th of October 1560, out of the qwhilk number his Majestie should make choyce of such as he should present to the benefices vaikand. The names of them all are as follows: Mrs Robert Pont, Robert Howie, James Nicolsone, Alexr. Scrymgeour, John Forbes, Gavin Hamilton, George Munro, James Robertsone, John Howiesone, James Melvill, Andrew Knox, Patrick Galloway, Alexr. Douglass, Alexr. Lyndsay, Robert Wilkie, John Spotswood, William Malcolme, Alexr. Forbes, John Knox, Andrew Lambe, John Clappertone, George Grahame, Robert Bruce, John Carmichaell, Patrick Lyndsay.
Anent the request made be the moderator, in name of the haill Assemblie, to his Majestie, in favours of Mr Robert Bruce: his Majestie declarit that he wold doe in that matter be the advyce of theCommissioners of the Generall Assemblie, and Mr Robt. be his awne behaviour should give him occasione; and because Mr Rot. Bruce had be his missive direct to his Majestie before his departure off the countrie, as also by the ratificatione and farther examinatione and explanatione thereof, in write, at Perth, the 26th of July 1602, declareit his resolutione of his Majestie’s innocencie, and guiltiness of the Earl of Gowrie and his brother, and promised to direct the people so farr as in him lay, from their lewd opinions and uncharitable constructiones anent his Majestie’s actiones, namely, in this turne; Therefore, his Majestie desyrit the determinatione of the Assemblie, qwhither, if the said Mr Robert sould likewise make the same declaratione in pulpit, according as it is at lenth sett downe in the said missive and explanation thereof, at Perth, qwherof the tenor follows:
Please your Majestie: Hearing that your Majestie was nothing relentit of your wrath against me, and now being upon the poynt to schaw my obedience to your Majestie’s last charge, I could not omitt this as my last dewtie, to intreat your Hienes’ clemencie, and to mitigat the extremetie of this intendit wrath. I am not ignorant that the wrath of the Prince is the messenger of death; so that I crave that the Lord for Christ’s sake may add his blessing and work effectually in your Grace, as he shall see expedient for his own glory and your Majestie’s perpetuall preservatione. Then to be schort: To schaw my conformitie with the rest of my brether of the ministry, as at all tymes, so now especially, to schaw my reverence to your Majestie, and to clear my suspectit affections herein, I offer to give to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in him, and through him, most hearty thanks for all your Majestie’s deliveries, from your cradle to this present houre. But namely, for that deliverie qwhilk he delyverit to your Majestie, in St Johnstoune, on Tuesday the 5th of August, farr above all your Majestie’s deserts, and your Majestie’s expectation. I offer also to steir vp the people to that same dewtie, and attour to divert the people so farr as in me lyes, from their lewd opiniones, and uncharitable constructiones of your Majestie’s actions,—namely in this turne.Finallie, there is no dewtie that your Majestie can crave of men, without the manifest offence of God, and hurt of my own conscience, but I will doe it with alse good ane heart as ever I did thing in the earth: That if by any meanes I might testify my good affectione toward your Majestie my Sovereigne, and to enjoy my naturall air, and such wther comforts as the Lord hes given me under your Majestie’sreign, qwhilk I most humbly crave of your Majestie—beseekand the Lord to move your heart hereunto for Christ’s sake: So waiting of your Heines’ answer in all humility, I take my leave.—Sic subscribitur.
MrRobt. Bruce.
And upon the back thereof, “At Perth, the 26th of June 1600. Farther, concerning the heids within containit, I am resolvit of his Majestie’s innocencie, and the guiltiness of the Earle of Gowrie and his brother, according as it is declareit be the act of Parliament, and therefore acknowledges the great mercy of God towards his Majestie’s haill Kirk and countrie; in his Majestie’s delyverance, for the qwhilk I thank God from my heart.—Sic subscribitur.
MrRot. Bruce.”
The qwhilk, the haill Assemblie, after voteing, thought not onlie reasonable, but also concludes that the said Mr Robert aucht to doe the same.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Robert Pont, minister at St Cuthbert’s Kirk, desyrand, in respect of his great age, and long travells taken in the Kirk of God, and continwall seikness qwhilk followeth age, that he might be relieved from the ordinare burden of teaching, upon condition that he shall substitute ane in his place when as through infirmitie he sould not be able to teach himself: The Assemblie thinks his sute reasonable, and therefore condescendit unto the same.
Item, Because his Majestie declarit that he was informit that sundry of the ministrie neglectit that part of their duty towards his Majestie in not giving thanks to God for the wonderfull delivery of his Majestie from the treasonable attempt at St Johnstone of sometyme John Earle of Gowrie, and his brother, upon every fifth day of August: Therefore the Assemblie statutes and ordaines that in all burrow townes within this realme there be ordinar teaching and preaching every Tuesday, in remembrance of the delyverie of his Majestie that day of the week, and that every fyfth day of August there be preaching within every paroche kirk within this realme, to burgh and land, thankand God of his Majestie’s delyverance that day of the moneth; and because the people in landwart parochines cannot so easilie be conveint as in the burrow townes, therefore, and for better convening, it is ordainit that every ministerat the landwart kirk shall, upon the Sunday preceding the 5 of August, make intimatione to his parochiners to convene the said day in the kirk with him, to give God thanks for his Majestie’s delyverance. And to the effect that all ryotousness, drunkenness, and wther filthie exercises, may be restrainit, his Majestie promised to cause all insolencie in behaviour to be dischargit and forbidden yearly, be open proclamatione, and magistrats to take order with the contraveiners thereof.
Item, The Assemblie ordaynes that no marriages be celebrate early in the morning or with candlelight, and finds lykewayes that it is leisum to celebrate the said band of marriage upon the Sabbath day, or any wther preaching day, as the pairties shall requyre and think expedient: and ordaynes the same to be indifferently done, and that no ryotousness be used at the same upon the Sabbath day.
Item, It is statute that the sacrament of baptisme be not refusit to any infants if the parents crave the same, he givand ane Christian confession of his faith, upon any wther particular pretence, and specially, that baptisme be not delayit to certaine particular dayes.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Edward Bruce, Abbot of Kynloss, makand mention, that qwher he havand ane tacke and assedatione of the kirk of Tarbet, sett be Mr John Monro, and lykewayes be Mr David Lyndsay, Bishop of Ross, the yearly dewtie qwherof, albeit it extends only to the soume of two hundreth punds, neverthelesse he, for the better intertainment of the actuall minister at the said kirk, hes condescendit to convert the said soume of twa hundreth punds in twa chalders of bier for ane constant stipend to the said minister and his successors, ministers at the said kirk of Tarbett, upon conditione that the ministers of the Presbytrie of Rosse, qwhilks are of the chapiter of the said bishoprick, wald ratifie and approve this tack of the said kirk, qwhilk they wald willingly doe, provyding the Assemblie’s consent were obtainit thereto, as at mair lenth is contained in the said supplicatione: The Generall Assemblie ratifies and approves the said tack and assedatione, sett to the said commendator of the said kirk of Tarbett, alse weill be the said Mr John Monro as be the said Mr David Lyndsay, and ordaynes the brethren of the presbytrie of Ross, qwho are members of the said chapter, to consent to the same be their subscriptiones, because they understand the said kirk to be sufficiently plantit be the moyen forsaid.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr Patrick Carmichaell, ministerat Aberdour, makand mention, that qwher the Assembly halden at Montrose in Marche 1600 years, it was concludit that Mr William Patone should serve the cure of both the kirks of Aberdour and Dalgatie, and for his service sould uplift the old stipend of baith the saids kirks, ay and qwhill sufficient provisione be made for planting of both the saids kirks; and trew it is that the said complainer is now plantit minister at the said kirk of Aberdour, desyrand, therefore, to cause the half of the said stipend to be dimittit to him be the said Mr William in respect of his service at ane of the saids kirks: The Assemblie finds and decerns the haill stipend controvertit, to pertaine to Mr Wm. Patone, minister at Dalgatie, conforme to his assignatione of the cropt 1601, except the viccarage of Aberdour, qwhilk they adjudge to pertaine to the said minister of Aberdour.
Anent the supplicatione in the north paroche of Leith, makand mention, that qwher the Presbytrie of Edinburgh hes erected the said north paroche in ane parochine, qwhilk is also approvine be the Synod of Lowthiane, desyrand, therefore, the ratificatione of the Generall Assemblie unto the same: The Assemblie ratifies and approves the erectione of the same in all poynts.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be the inhabitants of the ferrie of Scottscraig, Garpat, Shannwell, and Muirtaine, makand mention, That they being a great multitude, and farr distant from their paroche kirk of Leuchars, they, with common consent of the haill parochiners, Presbytrie of St Androis, and Synod of Fyffe, had erectit ane paroche kirk in the said Ferrie, and almost compleited the same, for the commoditie and use of the people most adjacent thereto, and to give power to the Presbytrie to annex sic villages as are most adjacent to the said paroch kirk: The Assemblie ratifies the erectione forsaid, and gives power to the said Presbytrie to the effect above written.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be ane Noble Lord, Alexander Earle of Lynlithgow, makand mentione, That qwher it hes pleasit the brethren of the last Assemblie to relax Dame Helenor Hay, his spouse, from the sentence of excommunicatione, and to injoyne certaine particular conditiones to be observit be hir, qwhilks conditiones, albeit schoe, of the stubbornness of her heart, wold no wayes condescend unto, to his great grief and sorrow, nevertheless, the brethren sould have consideratione of his hard estate, who cannot, be no law, separate himself from her, notwithstanding thatschoe refuises to hear and obey the wholsome voyce of the Kirk, calling her to grace in Jesus Christ; and that the rather because he himself, as he hes continuallie and constantly profest the truth and religione presently profest within this realme, so he hes used all means possible to bring his house to the trew knawledge of the same; Lykeas also he is ready in his power, be all good meanes to draw her to the truth; desyrand, therefore, the Assemblie to pity his dayly grief, and schaw him some favour in the mitigatione of her punishment, and staying of the censure of excommunicatione against her, that he be not compellit to remaine in societie with her that shall be cutt off from the society of the Kirk: The Assemblie having considerit the supplicatione, continows the sentence of excommunicatione against her unto the nixt Generall Assemblie, provyding that the King’s Majestie remove his Hienes daughter out of her companie, and lykewise that his Lordship’s bairnes be catechised in the truth, and that his Majestie give command to him to debarre all Papists from his house, and that in the meantyme his Lordship cause deall with his said spouse, to sie if by any meanes she may be drawne to the knawledgeing of the truth.
Sessio Ultima.
Anent the supplicatione giuen in be the brethren of the Synod of Glasgow, makand mention, That qwher albeit syndrie tymes they had discharged, be their acts, Mr George Symple, to have any medling with the ministry of the kirk of Killelane, for the causes and considerationes knawn to them, and speciallie for a great myslyking that specialls of the paroche had of him, nevertheless, he not only insistit in suiting of the said kirk, but also had obtaynit, be privie moyen, the consent of the Commissioners of the Generall Assemblie thereto, for planting of him at the said kirk, the saids brethren not being heard, nor their reasons in the contrair discusst, desyreing therefore their reasons to be heard, and after dew tryall, that the Assemblie wald give their finall sentence in the said matter, qwhilk they would obey: The Assemblie, after dew tryall, absolves the said Mr George from all evill crymes and eylists qwhilk were laid to his charge, either be the brethren of the said province, or be the parochiners of Killelane, and gives him, be thir presents, ane testimony of his honest behaviour; but in respect he was never fully plantit minister at the said kirk, and of the great mislyking that is betwixt him and sundrie of the saids parochinersof Killelane, as said is, they think it not good that he be plantit minister at the said kirk, and therefore ordaynes him to desist therfrae, and dimitt the presentatione made to him of the benefice thereof in favours of Mr John Cunninghame, qwham the Presbytrie hes thought good to be minister at the said kirk, upon conditione that the said Mr George be first satisfyit be the said Mr John for his said dimissione, paines and loss, susteinit be him in pleying of the same: Qwhilk satisfactione shall be presently modified be Mr John Cowper, arbiter chosen for the said Mr John Cunninghame, and Mr Robert Pont, arbiter chosen for the said Mr George Simple, and, in caice of variance, be Mr Patrick Galloway, as odsman and oversman chosen be both their consents: with provisione lykwayes that the said Mr George be first plantit at the kirk of Kirkbeane, or any uther place qwher his Majestie shall think expedient in the south-west parts, with sufficient provisione for his sustentatione thereat.
The said day, the Assemblie ordaynes Richard Browne to be transportit to the kirk of Holywood, and that the brethren deall with the Abbot for ane sufficient provisione to the said kirk, and in speciall Mr David Barclay, Mr Robert Hunter, and Mr Hew Fullertoune.
Item, The Assemblie ordaynes that, in all tyme coming, the licence be grantit to any beneficit persone to sett tacks, be restraint aither to ane lyferent tack, or to ane nynetein year tack allanarly.
Anent the supplicatione given in be Mr John Nicolsone of Lesswade, beirand, that qwher he was kindlie tacksman of the teinds of his awne lands of Leswade, in respect qwherof he had agreit with Mr George Ramsay, Deane of Restalrig, for renewing of his said tacks for payment of ane greater dewtie then they payit of before, so that the Kirk was sufficiently plantit, to the qwhilks the said Mr George condescendit, desyrand, therefore, the Assemblie to ratifie and approve the saids tacks, and declare the same alse sufficient as if ane speciall licence had been obtained thereto: The Assemblie ratifies and approves the same taks of the teinds of his awn lands of Lesswaid, and declares the samen als sufficient, as if a speciall licence had been obtenit therto.
Item, At the earnest sute of the Presbytrie of Clyddisdaill, Walter, Prior of Blantyre, tacksman of the personage of Glasgow, had condescendit to give the number of 15 chalder victuall, by and attour the dewtie of his tacks, for the better provisione of the ministrie atthe said kirk of Glasgow, upon conditione that the present persone sould ratifie and approve his present tack that he hes to runne of the said teinds: The Assemblie thinks the conditione reasonable, and therefore ordaynes the persone to ratifie the same, and declares that the said Commendator shall not be farther troublit for any great provisione to the said kirk during his saids tacks, be nane of the ministry serving that cure.
Anent the propositione made in the Assemblie upon the priuat motiones of sundry particular brethren, from diverse parts to the Moderator, desyrand that a certaine number of the brethren of best judgement and experience should be put apart to consider of the chiefest dangers appeirand to the estate of religion and quyetness of the countrie, and of the principall causes thereof, and how the samen micht be most effectuallie preventit, with power to them to conclude and to communicat their best advyces to his Majestie thereanent, and to the Presbytries so far as shall be found expedient: The Assemblie finds the samen most requisite, and for the effect above-written, nominats, &c. with power, as said is.
The qwhilk brethren having at lenth communicat their informatione, together with their awne knawledge anent the premisses, Finds that ane of the chiefest causes of danger proceeds from the miscontentment of some malicious and wicked Papists, that rages and leaves nothing unessayit to trouble; for being out of all esperance to have his Majestie’s indifferent affection or oversight toward them and their religion during his reigne, and of others that be the executione of justice finds themselves or their friends and their houses to have sustainit any losse, and to be impairit of their grytest dependance, and redacted to live under the obedience of the lawes utherwayes nor they were wont, and from the malicious business of certaine craftie and seditious persones, that either for the present necessitie of their awne estate, or for the hope of advancement of gaine to be had in the change of the present goverment, ceases not be all meanes to inflame the hearts of such as they perceive to be miscontentit in any estate, and making every man to see his own desyre in the trouble of the countrey, dealing in the meantyme likewayes with such as are of the most sincere affectione to Religion and Justice; That things is not done of that integrity that is profest, pressing to make the godly and good subjects the more cold, and adversaries to such as would intend a trouble: ffor remead qwhereof it is thocht good and concludit, That his Majestieshall be informit hereanent, that be his awne care and foresight such ungodly plots and counsells may be frustrate, and suchlyke that every minister within this realme shall deall generally with their congregationes and auditors at all occasiones in their publick doctrine in pulpit, and with all noblemen, barrones, gentlemen, and uthers that are of any speciall credite or power, particularlie in their private conferrences, persuading them of the King’s honest mynd toward the establisching of the trew religione presently profest within this countrie, and the executione of justice, and of his stedfast resolutione to hazard his estate, lyfe, and crowne, in the cause of the gospell, with the standing and falling qwhereof he acknowledges his standing and falling to be inseparably conjoynit, and that they mark carefully the actiones of all men, especially of such as either for religione or executione of justice, or for the necessitie of their awne estate, mislykes the present government, and are inclynit unto novations, and qwhom they see in any extraordinar kinde of bussiness by their custome, and that they make his Majestie’s Ministers acquaintit therwith, not ceasing in the meantyme to bring them to ane quiet minde; and for this effect that in all their ordinary meetings in Sessions, Presbytries, and provinciall Assemblies, there be a particular and private inquisition in thir poynts as need beis, that his Majestie’s Ministers may be advertised with all expeditione: And lykewayes it is thought expedient and concludit that his Majestie’s Ministers, and such uthers of the ministrie as shall have occasione to be in any charge about his Majestie, informe the Presbytries of the estate of things as they proceed, so far as it is needfull for the weill of the cause, and that this advyce be extractit and sent with diligence to every Presbytrie in authentick forme.
The nixt Assemblie is appoyntit to be halden at Aberdeene, the last Twesday of July in the year of God 1604 years.
Thanks beand given to God be the Moderator for the comfortable successe of this present Assemblie, the brethrene were dismissed.
We have now completed the record of all the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, held in and betwixt the years 1560 and 1602 inclusive. The Acts of these Assemblies constitute all that are regarded as authoritative by the Presbyterian Church. There were Assemblies, indeed, in the years 1606, 1608, 1610, 1616, 1617, and 1618; but the General Assembly of Glasgow, held in the year 1638, decreed “every ane of them to have been, from the beginning, unfree, unlawfull, and null Assemblies, and never to have had, nor hereafter to have, any Ecclesiasticall authoritie, and their conclusions to have been and to bee of no force, vigor, nor efficacie; prohibited all defence and observance of them, and ordained the reasons of their nullitie to be insert in the Books of Assembly.”[47]And in the Assembly of 1639 it was also declared, that the proceedings of these Assemblies “be hereafter accompted as null and of none effect.”[48]The Acts of those Assemblies thus repudiated, have ever since been regarded by the Church as of no authority. As, however, the proceedings in five of those Assemblies are contained in the MS. copies of the “Booke of the Kirk” to which we have had access, and as, although apocryphal, the Acts which are recorded tend to illustrate the history of the Church during the period to which we refer, we intend to include them in this print of the whole Book as we find it, but separately, and completely apart from the Acts of the legitimate Assemblies.Before, however, proceeding to do so, it is considered expedient to include, as part of the genuine record, an authenticated Copy of the Book of Policie. When the transcript of the record for the year 1581 was put to press, and when the “Heads of Policie,” (or Second Book of Discipline,) should have been inserted as engrossed in the register, and as part of the proceedings of the Assembly held that year, the Editor did not consider it necessary to do so; inasmuch as many printed editions of that document were to be found in various publications. Since that portion of the work, however, was printed off, he has been led, by his inquiries, to the conclusion, that none of those editions which he has yet seen are perfectly accurate. He has arrived at this conviction by the discovery of anauthenticatedcopy of it, attested in the year 1591, under the hand of Jas. Richie, the clerk of Assembly, and by the signatures of the Presbytery of Haddington, in terms of an Act of the General Assembly. He has collated that copy with others, and now deems it his duty to incorporate in this work an exact transcript of it, the authenticity being thus satisfactorily established. The importance of doing so, and the addition of some collateral circumstances connected with the Book of Policie, have been suggested to him by the fact, that the chief basis of the celebratedACT ANENT CALLSis alleged to be found in that document, and much argument has been founded, both in the Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts, on the interpretation of various passages in it, and the authority that is due to it as an assumed record of the “fundamental” principles of our Establishment. It is therefore desirable that the Church and the Country should be put in possession of a genuine copy of a production, from which practical inferences of so much moment have been deduced.
We have now completed the record of all the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, held in and betwixt the years 1560 and 1602 inclusive. The Acts of these Assemblies constitute all that are regarded as authoritative by the Presbyterian Church. There were Assemblies, indeed, in the years 1606, 1608, 1610, 1616, 1617, and 1618; but the General Assembly of Glasgow, held in the year 1638, decreed “every ane of them to have been, from the beginning, unfree, unlawfull, and null Assemblies, and never to have had, nor hereafter to have, any Ecclesiasticall authoritie, and their conclusions to have been and to bee of no force, vigor, nor efficacie; prohibited all defence and observance of them, and ordained the reasons of their nullitie to be insert in the Books of Assembly.”[47]And in the Assembly of 1639 it was also declared, that the proceedings of these Assemblies “be hereafter accompted as null and of none effect.”[48]The Acts of those Assemblies thus repudiated, have ever since been regarded by the Church as of no authority. As, however, the proceedings in five of those Assemblies are contained in the MS. copies of the “Booke of the Kirk” to which we have had access, and as, although apocryphal, the Acts which are recorded tend to illustrate the history of the Church during the period to which we refer, we intend to include them in this print of the whole Book as we find it, but separately, and completely apart from the Acts of the legitimate Assemblies.
Before, however, proceeding to do so, it is considered expedient to include, as part of the genuine record, an authenticated Copy of the Book of Policie. When the transcript of the record for the year 1581 was put to press, and when the “Heads of Policie,” (or Second Book of Discipline,) should have been inserted as engrossed in the register, and as part of the proceedings of the Assembly held that year, the Editor did not consider it necessary to do so; inasmuch as many printed editions of that document were to be found in various publications. Since that portion of the work, however, was printed off, he has been led, by his inquiries, to the conclusion, that none of those editions which he has yet seen are perfectly accurate. He has arrived at this conviction by the discovery of anauthenticatedcopy of it, attested in the year 1591, under the hand of Jas. Richie, the clerk of Assembly, and by the signatures of the Presbytery of Haddington, in terms of an Act of the General Assembly. He has collated that copy with others, and now deems it his duty to incorporate in this work an exact transcript of it, the authenticity being thus satisfactorily established. The importance of doing so, and the addition of some collateral circumstances connected with the Book of Policie, have been suggested to him by the fact, that the chief basis of the celebratedACT ANENT CALLSis alleged to be found in that document, and much argument has been founded, both in the Ecclesiastical and Civil Courts, on the interpretation of various passages in it, and the authority that is due to it as an assumed record of the “fundamental” principles of our Establishment. It is therefore desirable that the Church and the Country should be put in possession of a genuine copy of a production, from which practical inferences of so much moment have been deduced.
In the Haddington MS. volume, (a small quarto,) from which the foregoing copy of the Book of Policy has been transcribed, there are various other documents ingrossed, for the guidance of that Presbytery in its proceedings. These are—1. Extracts from the Act of Assembly, 8th August 1590, Sess. 10, and 5th July 1591, Sess. 4, with reference to subscription of the Book of Policy by Presbytries, and the clerk supplying them with copies for that purpose.2. “Ane Forme of sundrie Materis to be vsit in the Elderschip.”3. The Book of Policy above inserted.4. “A Schort Soume of the wholl Actis of the Kirk, takin out of the Buik of Discipline and Registers of our Assemblies, for the instruction of Ministers and Readaris in thair office”— under the heads of “Doctrine”— “Examinatione”— “Ministrie”— “Discipline”— “Policie.”Among these we find in the Collection ofForms(2) thus recorded, several documents which illustrate the mode of settling ministers about the year 1590, viz. a Presbyterial Warrant for “Collation”—the “Institution”—the notarial “Instrument tharupon”—“ane Commission of a Benefice”—a “Presentation of a Laick Patron of ane new erection.” There are also “Observations of the Conferences betwix the Kingis Majestie and Counsells Commissionars and the Kirks, with the Judgement of the Generall Assembly,” which appears to be attested by Richie, the Clerk of Assembly. All these are valuable, as evidents of the practice and history of those times; and they will form a part of the Notes and Illustrations which we purpose to subjoin—without which, indeed, the Booke of the Kirk alone would be insufficient to afford a satisfactory view of the laws and usages of the Church of Scotland during the first sixty years of its existence. It is gratifying, however, to have been enabled to lay before the Church and the Country at present, a Copy of the Book of Policy of undoubted authenticity, as well as to complete the publication of all the earlier authoritative Acts of Assembly.May 15, 1839.
In the Haddington MS. volume, (a small quarto,) from which the foregoing copy of the Book of Policy has been transcribed, there are various other documents ingrossed, for the guidance of that Presbytery in its proceedings. These are—
1. Extracts from the Act of Assembly, 8th August 1590, Sess. 10, and 5th July 1591, Sess. 4, with reference to subscription of the Book of Policy by Presbytries, and the clerk supplying them with copies for that purpose.2. “Ane Forme of sundrie Materis to be vsit in the Elderschip.”3. The Book of Policy above inserted.4. “A Schort Soume of the wholl Actis of the Kirk, takin out of the Buik of Discipline and Registers of our Assemblies, for the instruction of Ministers and Readaris in thair office”— under the heads of “Doctrine”— “Examinatione”— “Ministrie”— “Discipline”— “Policie.”
1. Extracts from the Act of Assembly, 8th August 1590, Sess. 10, and 5th July 1591, Sess. 4, with reference to subscription of the Book of Policy by Presbytries, and the clerk supplying them with copies for that purpose.
2. “Ane Forme of sundrie Materis to be vsit in the Elderschip.”
3. The Book of Policy above inserted.
4. “A Schort Soume of the wholl Actis of the Kirk, takin out of the Buik of Discipline and Registers of our Assemblies, for the instruction of Ministers and Readaris in thair office”— under the heads of “Doctrine”— “Examinatione”— “Ministrie”— “Discipline”— “Policie.”
Among these we find in the Collection ofForms(2) thus recorded, several documents which illustrate the mode of settling ministers about the year 1590, viz. a Presbyterial Warrant for “Collation”—the “Institution”—the notarial “Instrument tharupon”—“ane Commission of a Benefice”—a “Presentation of a Laick Patron of ane new erection.” There are also “Observations of the Conferences betwix the Kingis Majestie and Counsells Commissionars and the Kirks, with the Judgement of the Generall Assembly,” which appears to be attested by Richie, the Clerk of Assembly. All these are valuable, as evidents of the practice and history of those times; and they will form a part of the Notes and Illustrations which we purpose to subjoin—without which, indeed, the Booke of the Kirk alone would be insufficient to afford a satisfactory view of the laws and usages of the Church of Scotland during the first sixty years of its existence. It is gratifying, however, to have been enabled to lay before the Church and the Country at present, a Copy of the Book of Policy of undoubted authenticity, as well as to complete the publication of all the earlier authoritative Acts of Assembly.
May 15, 1839.