Seffio 2a.

In respect that at the defyre of the Affemblie, certaine of the Nobilitie were conveinit, viz. my Lord Chancellour, the Erle of Montrois, my Lord Seatoun, my Lord Lindsay, it was exponit and fhawin [unto them] be the Moderatour of this Affemblie, in name of the Kirk, quhat care and ftudie the Kirk of God had tane to intertaine and keip the puritie of the fincere word of God vnmixt with the invention of their awin heids, quhilk thair speciall care was to preserve to the pofteritie heirafter: And seeing that the true religioun is not able to continue nor indure long without a good discipline and policie; in that part have they also imployit thair witt and studie, and drawin foorth of the pure fontaines of Gods word, fick a difcipline [and policie] as is meitt to remaine within the Kirk, quhilk they prefentit to the Kings Majeftie, with thair fupplicatioun; at whofe directioun certaine Commiffioners were appointit to reafon with fick as were deput be the Kirk; quher the haill matter beeand difpute, was refolvit and aggreit to a few heids, and therafter againe prefentit to the Lords of the Articles, that the faid discipline might take place and be establishit be the actis and lawis of the realme; quherin, nottheles, thair travell hes not fucceidit; prayand therfor the Nobilitie present, alfweill oppinly to make profeffioun to the Kirk, if they will allow, affirme and mantaine the religioun prefentlie establischit within this realme, as alfo the Policie and Difcipline already fpokin of; and labour at the King and Counfells hands for ane anfuer to the heids after following, to wit: That his Grace and Counfell will establisch fuch heids of the Policie as was already refolvit and aggreit vpon be the faids Commiffioners, and caufe fick vthers as was not finallie aggreit, to be reafonit and put to ane end; and that his Grace and Counfell will restore the Kirk to [the benefit of] the act of Parliament concerning the thrids; and that none vote in Parliament for the Kirk, except fuch as fall have commiflioun of the Kirk for that effect; and that presentations of benefices be directit to the Commiffioners of Countreyis quher benefices lyes: And to the effect that the matter may be the better and fooner exped, that thair Lordships wald appoint fick tyme convenient therto as they may beft fpare, that fick of the brether as beis namit therto, may awaite vpon thair Honours. Heirvnto the Noblemen anfuerit, That a part of them had made publick profeffioun of this

religioun befor, and alwayes now they declare they confeffe the religioun presentlie profeft within this realme, and fall mantaine the fame to thair power: As to the reft they thinke good the King and his Counsell be fuitit, and they fall affift with the Kirk for anfuer therto the tyme to that effect [they shall notifie] to the Kirk the morne.

Seffio Sa.

The Commiffioners of Provinces were called, the abfents noted; Mr Patrick Adamfon his excufe rejected: The reft who were prefent, were tryed. Mr John Robertson, Minister of Ross, was delated, That he had remained almost this half year in Edinburgh, fo that he neither discharged his commiffion of Vifitation, nor his office of the Miniftrie. He answered, That he had fome actions depending before the Lords, and other weighty affairs, which stayed him; that beside the supply of certain brethren at his kirk, he had licence of the Bishop of Rofs; and that he knew nothing of the commiffion. The Affembly willed him to return again to his cure with all convenient diligence.

Mr James Boyd, Commiffioner of Kyle, Carict, &c., was defired to fubmitt himself to the Generall Affemblie, for reformation of the corruption of the state of a Bishop in his perfon, according to the acts of the Affemblie; farther he was accused of negligence in his vifitation; negligence of preaching at the kirk of Ofwald, which he had taken to be his particular kirk; flackness of difcipline; and that he had given collation to Mr Hector Dowglass of the benefice of Ankrom, with command to the Reader to give him inftitution thereof, there being another Minister there actually ferving the cure at the faid kirk. To the firft demand, Mr. James answered, He understood not the meaning of the faid act concerning fubmiflion; alwife he was content to offer fuch reafons to the Moderator and the brethren that confult with him, as either they may be satisfied in the faid point, or be their better reafons he may be perfuaded to yield. The Affembly appointed him to be prefent with the faid brethren and Moderator, upon Munday at 7 hours in the morning, in Mr James Lowfons galrie. As to his non vifitation, he granted, He had not vifit Kyle and Cuningham for deadly feeds there, and defired to be difburdened of that charge, and his vifitation to be limited to him about Glafgow. As for

preaching, He had preached at the kirk of Ofwald when he was in the countrey, and other times at Glasgow, and craved of the Affemblie, that he might travell at Glafgow. As to the laft, anfwered, It is the common forme of collations that he keeped.

Mr John Row delated, That he had not put in execution the acts of the Affemblie against Lady Atholl. He anfwered, That he had taken fome travell in that behalfe, yet becaus the Erle himself had adjoyned him to the religion, he wold not be rash till he had farther refolution of the Affembly. Four brethren are directed to the Erle to require his judgement anent the best mean to bring her to the religion; and to demand, what tyme the Commiffioners of the Affembly, who are to be direct to the Kings Majeftie and his Council, fhall await on his Lordship and the rest of the Noblemen that were to pafs thither. To the firft he answered, That the readiest way was the hearing of the word, and privat conference, wherein he should ufe diligence. As to the other demand, he thinks it meet, They goe foreward with their purpose, whether he whether he goe to Stirline, or not, because he was uncertain; but if he be prefent, he fhall affift their Commiffioners, as he promifed.

Seffio 4a.

Anent the complaint made of certain brethren of the Ministry, that had left their own flock, and fome fimpliciter the function of the Ministrie, viz. Alexander Winchester, Minister in Elgin, left his flock of Elgine, and now preacheth in Stirline; Mr Patrick Auchinleck having a benefice in Murrey, ferveth not there; Mr John Colvill, Minister at Kilbryde, had left the Ministrie; Mr Patrick Dowglafs, Chantour of Murray, Mr Gilbert Gardin, non refidents: All which perfons being called, the said Mr Patrick being prefent, was commanded to enter to his cure in Murrey, as he will be anfwerable to the Affembly. He promised to obey. Mr John Craig anfwered for Mr Gilbert Gardin, That his benefice is given up vacant. The reft not compearing, the Affembly give their full power and commiffion to their brethren directed with commiffion to the King, to fummond the faid Mr John Colvill, and the Minifter of Elgine, if he be at Stirling, to compear before them at Stirline at fuch other days as they think good, to answer for the leaving of their flock, and Ministrie

refpectivé, and to put order to them according to the acts of the Generall Affembly, as they will anfwer to the Affembly on their duty, and that betwixt and the next Affemblie; and if the faid Minister of Elgine be not there, Ordaines the Commiflioner who fhall be nominat to vifit his Countrey, to call the faid Minifter before him, at fuch dayes as he thinks good, and to proceed against him for his non refidence, according to the acts of the Affembly, and to try the flander given be him, and after juft triall thereof, according to the faid act, as alfo the Commiffioners of the remanent perfons above fpecified not refident, to take ficklyke order with them according to the acts of the Kirk, as they will anfwer upon their office. C.]

Seffio 5a.

Anent the act made in the last Affemblie concerning the suspension of Vifitors fra giving of collatioun of benefices to any person by the Ministers ferving actually at the kirks quher the faids benefices lyis: The Kirk ordaines the said act to stand in full effect and ftrength quhill the nixt Affemblie, quher the matter beand newlie proponit may be farther refolvit.

[Anent the Commiffion given to the Minifters of Edinburg, Mr David Lindsay, Mr Robert Pont, David Fergusone and John Brand, to fummone Mr Patrick Adamfone, Commiffioner of a part of Fife, and Mr Robert Hammilton Minister at Sanct Andrews, to have compeared before them in Edinburgh, and to try the abuses of the Faft in Sanct Andrews, committed be their negligence; and other complaints to be given in against the said Mr Robert; and ficklike to try if the faid Mr Robert hath obeyed the ordinance and decreit of the Kirk concerning the leaving of the Provostrie of the New Colledge, and to receive his answer therein; wherein if they find no reason to stay the execution of the faid fentence, to proceed, and put the fame in execution, according to the tenor thereof, as the faid commiffion beareth. The faid Commiffioners being prefent, and required what they had done touching the premiffes, granted the fame was not executed, pretending fome excufe: Therefore the Affemblie gives and committs of new the said matter to their faid brethren, requiring them with poffible diligence to put the fame into due execution, as they will answer upon their duty to the Kirk : And farther of new gives commiffion to their

faid brethren, to accufe the faid Mr Patrick of the tranfgreffions committed be him against the tenor of his fubmiffion, and to receive answer theranent; as alfo charge him to remove the corruptions of the state of a Bifchop in his perfon, particularly to be given in to him; and if he refuse, after admonitions, to be excommunicat be the perfons, who fhall be appointed be them to that effect. C.]

Anent the fubmiffioun of Mr James Boyd, Commiffioner of Kyle, Carreck &c., to the Generall Affemblie, conforme to the act made in the last Affemblie, and the reasoning had be him with the Moderator and brether appointit therto: The forfaid brether being prefent thoght beft he fould publisch his awin anfuer to the haill brether for fatiffactioun of them, quho gave in his anfuer in wryte as followeth.

Firft, I vnderstand the name, office, and modeft reverence borne to a Bifchop, to be lawful and allowable be the Scriptures of God; and beand electit be the Kirk and King to be Bifchop of Glasgow, I efteime my calling and office lawful. And as anent my executioun of that charge committit to me, I am content to endevore at my vttermoft abilitie to performe the fame and every point therof, and to abyde the honorabill judgements of the Kirk from time to time, of my offending by my dewtie; craveing alwayes a brotherlie defyre at thair hands, feeing the charge is weghtie, and in the laying [any thing] to be laid to my charge, to be examinat be the Canon left be the Apoftle to Timothie, 1 epiftle and 3 cap., feing that place was appointit to me at my receipt, to vnderftand therfra the dueties of a Bifchop.

As toward my living, and rents, and vthers things granted be the Prince to me, and my fucceffors, for the ferving of that charge: I reckon the fame lawful.

As to my dewtie to the Supreme Magiftrate: In affifting his Grace in Counsell or Parliament, beand cravit therto, I efteime my fubjectioun compells me to obey the fame; and [that it is] no hurt but a weill to the Kirk, that fome of our number be at the making of good lawes and ordinances : In the doing quherof, I proteft befor God, I intend never to doe any thing but that I believe fall stand with the puritie of the Scripture, and a weill reformit countrey; as alfo a good part of the living I bruik hes been given for that cause.

Quhilk being red in oppin Affemblie and confiderit, after voting of the haill brether, was adjudgeit to be no anfuer to the Act, nor to fatiffie the