defyre therof; alwayes he was requyrit that he fould returne at afternoone with better advyce as the Kirk wifched at God he fould doe. [Mr Hector Douglafs, to whom he had given collation of the benefice of Ankrum, being tryed be Mr John Craig and Mr Thomas Smeton at the command of the Affembly, they reported, He was yet rude in the principles of religion: He was ordained the morn at 7 hours, to give a proof of his gift in teaching before the faid brethren and fome others. C.] *. Seffio 8a. [It was ordained as followeth : Forfameikle as there are divers perfons within the Ministrie, that being depofed from their functions of the Miniftrie be the Generall Affemblie of the Kirk, and ficklyke be the Commiffioners of the Countries for offences committed be them, bruiks ftill the benefices and ecclefiaftical livings wherupon others fhould be fuftained, that may travell in the Ministrie of the word: Therefore C.] The Affemblie hes vottit and concludit, That all fick perfons as are already, or heirafter falbe depofit for thair offences from the functioun of the Ministrie, falbe chargit be the Commiffioners of the Countreys to dimitt the faid benefices and livings poffeffit be them, to the effect vthers may be provydit therto that may travell in the faid functioun, vnder the paine of excommunication to be execute agains them; quherin if they failzie, after admonitioun, to proceid to the fentence of excommunication agains them, vnder the pain of fufpenfion of them from the functioun of the Ministrie dureing the will of the Kirk and that this act be execute agains the Bifchop of Dunkeld, and the Minifter of Saline, be the Commiflioners of the Countrey quher they dwell, betuixt and the nixt Affemblie, under the paine forfaid. Forfameikle as the Bifchops are to be chargeit to remove the corruptiouns in that estate, the Kirk nominat the fpeciall corruptions quhilk they defyre fick as will fubmitt themfelfe to the said Affemblie to correct, with promise, that if the Generall Kirk heirafter fall find farther corruptions in the said estate nor heirto is expreft, that they be content to be reformit be the said Affemblie according to the word of God, quhen they falbe requyrit therto : 1. That they be content to be pastors and minifters of ane flock. 2. That they ufurp no criminal jurisdictioun. 3. That they vote not in Parliament in name of the Kirk, without commiffion from the Kirk. 4. That they take not up, for the manteinance of thair ambitioun and ryotoufnes, the emoluments of the Kirk quhilk may sustaine many pastors, the schooles, and the poore, but be content with reasonable living according to thair office. 5. That they claime not to themfelves the titles of Lords temporall, neither vfurp temporall jurisdiction; quherby they are abftractit from thair office. 6. That they impyre not above the particular Elderfchips, but be subject to the fame. 7. That they vfurp not the power of the Prefbytries. 8. That they take no farder bounds of Vifitation nor the Kirk committeth to them. The Affemblie [in refpect that Mr Hector Dowglafs was admitted be the Bifchop of Glasgow, who had no jurifdiction in these bounds, being otherwise also untryed be him; and therafter the trial of his doctrine being committed to certaine brethren having commiffion thereto in Stirline, and refused be him; and being after examined be certain of the brethren upon the rudiments of religion, and being found rude therein; as alfo in respect of his continuance in not compearing this day, as was appointed be the Generall Affembly, to give specimen of his doctrine; hath depryvit, and] deprives Mr Hector Dowglafs from his office and functioun of the Miniftry as voundit and vnabill therfor, and ordains him to be chargeit be the Commiffioner of the Countrey to dimitt his benefice; and if he refuses, after admonitions, to proceid to excommunicatioun agains him, vnder the paine of fufpenfioun of the faid Commiffioner fra his office of the Ministrie dureing the will of the Kirk. Forfameikle as there is diverfe perfons within this realme that fends thair children beand within age, furth of the countrey over fea to places quher fuperftitioun and papistrie is maintained, vnder pretence of feiking farther inftruction and learning; as alfo vthers beand of perfyte age, tranfports themselves out of the realme vpon the fame pretence, quherthrow, for the most part, they become corrupt in religioun, as be evident experience is daylie fein: For remeid heirof, the Generall Affemblie has advyfit and concludit, That the parents of fick children as within thair minoritie fends them to the faids places, or heirafter fall fend them quher the faid papistrie is teachit and mantainit, falbe chargit be thair awin Minifters refpectiué, to call back thair children from the faids places with all convenient expeditioun, vnder the paine of excommunicatioun; and if they diffobey, to proceid with the excommunicatioun agains them: and that fick as are of perfyte age, that already are paft out of the countrey to the faids places, or, in tyme coming, fall pafs therto, fall in lyke manner be chargit to remove themselves therfra, vnder the femblable paine to be execute agains them; and if they diffobey, to be excommunicat be the Minifter of the place quher they remainit befor thair departing out of the countrie. A. D. M.D.LXXIX THE Generall Affemblie conveinit at Edinburgh, in the New Kirk, and begun the 7 of Julij 1579: Quherein ther was prefent the Commiffioners of Countreys, Provinces, Townes and Vniverfities. Seffio 1a. Exhortatioun made be David Fergusone. Leits, Mrs Andro Hay, Thomas Smeitoun and Johne Duncanfone: be pluralitie of votes the faid Mr Thomas was chofin Moderatour hac vice, [who defired certain of the brethren to concurr, and give their advice to him in matters to be handled at this Convention,] at whofe defyre the Laird of Dunne, Mrs Johne Row, Andro Melvill, Androw Hay, James Lowfone, Robert Pont, David Fergufone, John Greig, [and the Minister of Dundie] were appointit Affeffours, [to conveen every day with him, at 7 hours in the morning, in Mr James Lowfons gallrie, and at two after noon, and to continue fo, till the end of the Affembly.] Seffio 2a. In face of the Affemblie, Mr Johne Duncanfone, the Kings Majefties Minifter, prefentit his Hienes letter direct to the Affemblie, quhilk was red and humblie receivit, and ordained to be registrat in the Register of the Kirk, quherof the tenour followes : Richt truftie and welbelovit, We greit zou heartlie weill. Vnderstanding of gour prefent Affemblie at Edenburgh, and for the rumours that paffes of fome things to be intreatit among gou, that may feime prejudiciall to that good ordour of the government of the Kirk and ecclefiafticall policie heirtofoir lang travellit in and hopeit for, We have takin occaffion to fhew our mynd in this behalfe to the Minifter of our awin house and fome vthers of your awin number happening to be present with Vs, quhom in this caufe We have thoght meiteft to vfe as our awin meflingers to carie our letter, quherby We heartlie defyre zou and effectuouflie admonisch gou, that in this our gong age, the tyme beand fubiect to fo many difficulties and imperfectiouns, to bestow gour common care and good will to intertaine peace and quyetnes in Gods feare and our due obedience; forbearing any proceiding at this tyme, that may touch matters heirtofoir not concludit be our lawis or receivit in practise: But quhatevir in the former conferences tuiching the policie of the Kirk, was remittit to be reasoned and decydit be our Estates in Parliament, let it fo reft without prejudging the fame with any of our conclufiouns at this tyme, fince our Parliament now fo shortlie approaches, and that We are weill pleafit [and content,] that before the fame fick matters as are not get fully reafonit, may be farther confultit vpon and prepared to paffe in forme of laws, and the meiteft for that worke to be expreflie imployit therin; to the end that the things conferrit and aggreit vpon may be prefentit to our Eftates, to be approvit in our faid Parliament, and due execution to follow thereon for the advancement of Gods true religioun, and the repofe of gou and vthers our good subiects, the members of the Kirk of God within this realme: And for this caufe, that ge will not only be the authors and perfwaders of commoun peace and concord amongst all of our awin function, but amongst all vthers our fubiects, afweill generallie as in the particular kirks quher ye travell, that fome men ovir buffie to worke the contrair effects, may find themselves diffapointit; and that our haill estate, be zour example, may be rather dif |