tranfgreffed herein, and ordaines the famen to be keeped in tymes coming : and as for order to be taken with the faid David, it was continued till his coming on Monday the 28th of this inftant. C.]

Seffio 2a.

It was thocht good be the Affembly, that Mr Andro Hay, Johne Craig, Johne Duncanfone, fould be direct to the Kings Hienes Counfell, requyreand the Counfell to direct fome of the fame as Commiffioners from his Hienes, to affift the Affemblie with thair prefence and counfell; quho returnit thair anfuer, That be reafon of vrgent affaires they could not be prefent this day, bot the morne ther fould be twa deput to be direct to the Kirk.

Seffio 3a.

[George Johnfton, Minifter at Ankrum, complained upon Mr James Boyd, That he being Minister at Ankrum thir five or fix years by past, the faid Mr James, upon a prefentation directed to him, gave collation to Mr Hector Douglafs of the Parfonage of Ankrum, howbeit the benefice lieth not within the bounds committed be the Affembly to his Vifitation, and without confent alfo of the Vifiters of that part: The faid Mr James declared, He had given the said Mr Hector collation of the faid Perfonage, and had made the Commiffioner forefeen in the matter; but the other denyed that he gave confent to his collation: The Affembly finds the act to be tranfgreffed be the faid Mr James Boyd, and ordaineth the same to be keeped in tymes coming. C.]

It was ordained, That Bifchops, and all vthers bearand Ecclefiafticall functioun, be callit be thair awin names, or Brethren, in tyme comeing.

Anent the ordinance made in the laft Affemblie, concerning the prefenting of the Booke of Policie of the Kirk to my Lord Regents Grace: The brethren haveand commiffioun thereto declarit, That they had prefentit the fame to him, with the fupplicatioun appointit; and ane day beand appointit to conference, the alteration of the Authoritie hes inter

veinit: And alwayes, to ftay corruption in the entrie of the Kings Majefties Government, they had prefentit to his Hienes Counsell, a fupplicatioun with foure Articles; ane, for obfervation of the Act of Parliament, tuiching fick as beares publick office within this realme; ane vther, for putting ordour to the late murther in Striveling and Edenburgh; the thrid, for the Policie of the Kirk; the fourth, for fupport of the appeirand famein Of the quhilks articles as get they receivit no anfuer.

[The Articles, in a certain manufcript, fet doun fully after this

manner:

1. That fubftantial remedy be found out for relief of the poor commons, in this prefent dearth.

2. That none be admitted to publick office, or Counfell, but fuch as have given confeffion of their faith, fubfcribed the articles of religion, and communicat at the Lords Table, conforme to the Act of Parliament made at Edinburgh, the 15 of December 1567.

3. That the Book of Difcipline, or Policy of the Kirk, prefented to the Regent, might be advised upon, and Commiffioners chofen be the Secret Council, to reafon and conferre with the Commiffioners of the Generall Affembly, and that time be appointed thereto in the Kings Graces prefence, before the time of Parliament.

4. That the Sabbath day be univerfally obferved; mercats, playes, and all other impediments, which may hinder the people to conveen to hear the word, be discharged.

5. That adultery, inceft, murther, and other hainous offences, fpecially the late murther of the Chanceller at Stirline, be punished.

6. That no general Collector be chofen without the Kirks advice; but that the Kirk may intromett with their own third, according to the Act of Parliament. C.]

The haill Affemblie thoght the fame meitt to be craved of the Counfell, and defyred my Lord Herreis and the Abbot of Deir prefent, of thair

opinioun concerning the faid Articles : Whofe anfuer was, They came not to vote nor conclude, bot were directed be the Counfell to heir and fie the proceidings of the Affemblie, and alwayes fould infift at the hands of the Counsell for anfuer to the faids Articles.

Anent the complaint made vpon David Fergusone, That he had overfein the executioun of the act made tuitching Mrs Thomas Bigger and George Bofwell, anent thair reforting to the Exercife of Dumfermling: The faid David prefent declarit, That vpon thair promife to erect ane Exercise in Kirkcadie he ftayit, quherin they have failgeit. The Kirk ordaines the faid act to be put to executioun be him, as accordis.

Seffio 4a.

It was thoght meitt be the brethren, that certaine fould be direct to my Lord Herries and the Abbot of Deir, to put them in remembrance of the anfuer to the articles givin in to the Counfell; and lykewayes [to require them] to demand of the Counfell, Whither they be direct to the Affemblie to give thair advyse in all things tending to the glorie of God and weill of his Kirk, or to heir allanerlie; and if the brether finds it expedient, to propone the ane and the vther themfelves to the Counfell: And to that effect were direct Mrs Andro Hay and David Lindefay, quho returning reportit, [touching an answer to the Articles,] That fome difficulties are in the articles; and for reafoning therof with fick as the Kirk will appoint therto, they have ordainit twa of the Counfell to concurre with them the morne at aught houres: As to the perfons they direct to the Affemblie, they gave them no power as Commiffioners of the King to vote in the Affemblie, for they had not spokin the King in this behalfe; alwayes, as brether and members of the Kirk, they fall give advyfe, counsell, and vote. The Kirk appoints Mrs Robert Pont, Johne Row, James Lowfone, Andro Hay, Andro Melvill and David Lindefay, to concurre with the deputes of the Counfell, to reason vpon the faids articles the morne at aught houres.

Forfameikle as the heids of the Policie beand concludit and aggreit in the laft Affembly of the Kirk, be the moft part of the brether; certaine of the brether fand fome difficultie and queftione in that heid de Diaconatu, quher

throw farther reasoning was refervit to this Affembly theranent: It was therfor requyrit that if any brether had any reasonable doubt or argument to propone, that he falbe readie the morne to offer his reafons, quher he falbe heard and refolvit.

It was ordained, That ane generall Faft be obferved vniverfallie within the kirks within this realme, to begin the firft Sonday of Junij nixt to come, and to continue quhill the nixt Sonday therafter inclufive, with the accuftomit exercise of doctrine and prayers, and [that the Moderator and the brethren joyned to confult with him, advise upon the causes of the Faft, and, to the end the fame may be the more folemnly obferved, that] intimation be made heirof, with the tyme and causes, to the King and Counsell, together with a fupplicatioun to his Grace and Counsell to discharge be opin proclamation, all kynd of infolent playis as King of May, Robin Hood, and fick vthers, in the moneth of May, played either be bairnes at the schools or others.

Seffio 5a.

The brethren appointit to conferre with the deputs of the Counsell tuiching the difficulties they had to propone agains the articles givin in to the faid Counsell, reportit, That the faid deputs willed the Affemblie to name the perfons quhom they fufpectit of Papistrie, and to direct from the number of the Kirk certaine brethren, to admonisch them to fubfcryve to the articles of the religioun, [prefented, confirmed and] prefentlie allowit be the act of Parliament, [within this realme,] and to participat the Communion; and if they find diffobedients, to intimat the fame to the Counsell, and lykewayes to proceid against the diffobedients with the cenfures of the Kirk.

The Affemblie nominat my Lord Chancellar, the Erles of Cathnes and Montgomerie, and my Lord Ogilvie; and ordanit Mrs Johne Row and James Lowfone to communicat with the Chancellar; and Mrs Johne Craig and Johne Duncanfone, with the reft; and to report thair anfueris at fyve houres to the Commiflioners of Countreyis, [in the great kirk.]

[As to the second and third articles: no full refolution given, but delayed till five hours.

The obfervation of the Sabbath, taking away of the mercats, and fuch lyke: The deputs thought meet, That a fupplication fould be given to the Council, with the judgement of the Affembly thereanent, whereunto the Affembly agreeing appointed Mr David Lindsay and John Duncanfon to pen the famen betwixt and five hours.

As for the Collectorie, and Book of Policie, They fhould take order before the time of the Parliament: It was answered, That it belonged to the Kirk to provide for the Collectory according to their own libertie, granted be act of Parliament.

As to the Policy: It was required that inftantly time and place be appointed, perfons chofen to conferr with their Commiffioners, that all things may be duely advised upon befor the Parliament: Upon this heid they promised to advise with the Council. C.]

Seffio 6a.

According to the ordinance made gefterday, all perfons that hes any reasonable doubt or argument to propone agains the heids of the Policie, were requyrit to propone the fame; and nane offerit any [reafon or] argument in the contrair.

[The Affembly continues the Commiffioners of Provinces in their office and charge of commiffion till the next Affembly. C.]

Seffio 7a.

Forfameikle as ther is great corruption in the eftate of Bifchops, as they are presentlie made in this realme, quhervnto the Kirk wald provyde fome stay in tyme comeing, so farre as they may, to the effect farther corruptioun may be brydlit: Therfor the Kirk hes concludit, That no Bifchops falbe electit or made heirafter, befor the nixt Generall Affemblie; difchargeing all Minifters and Chapiters to proceid any wayes to electioun of Bifchops in the meanetyme, vnder the paine of perpetuall deprivatioun from thair offices; and that this matter