pofit [to conforme] themselves to a godlie and a peaceable course of living, quhilk we are affured falbe pleafing to God, and to Vs wilbe most acceptable, as ge may perfwade gour felves of our willing inclinatioun to fett fordwart this actioun according to Gods will and word, with all the diligence and good meanes that may be vfed: And fo looking to be informed of the fucceffe of this our reasonable requeift and admonition, We commit gou to the protectioun of God. At our Caftell of Stirling, the 5 day of July 1579. Sic fubfcribitur James Rex.

Directit To our truftie and welbelovit the Minifters and vthers

of the Kirk prefentlie affemblit at Edenburgh.

[The Commiffioners of Countries being removed for triall, it was laid to John Clappertons charge, That he had fimpliciter refufed the commiffion of the Affembly, and had ufed no vifitation: He answered, That he had not fimpliciter refused the commiffion, but in terms had declared oft to the Affembly, that he might not bear the charge for good reafons which were not heard, granting alwayes he had not made vifitation; first, Because he found no concurrence in the Countrey; be reason of the ruine of kirks which he could not get repaired, albeit he had letters to that effect, because he durft not execut the fame; Sdly, Nemo in fua patria propheta, therefor a stranger would doe more good in these places nor he being native in these bounds.

Mr Peter Watson was accufed for not vifiting the bounds committed to him; and that being informed how Mr Gilbert Broun, Abbot of New Abbey, and Mr Ninian Dalzel had intised the people within these bounds to papistrie, and yet made no tryal thereof; Sdly, That there yet ftands an high altar in the New Abbay. He grants he had vifit only within fix miles to Dumfries, the rest of the country being deftitut of Ministers through depofition of many, fome be the Generall Affemblie, fome be the Synodal; grants, that the monument of idolatrie yet ftandeth; as for Mr Gilbert and Ninian, they were to be called before the present Affembly.

Seffio 3a.

Anent the complaint made upon Mr Thomas Cranston, Minister at Libertoun, That he had left his flock there, departed from them to another kirk, and taken up the living of the interim: The Affembly, in refpect

of his abfence, gives commiffion to the Commiffioner that shall be appointed over Edinburgh, and that part of Edinburgh, with affiftance of the Minifter of Edinburgh, to call the faid Mr Thomas befor them, and to cognofce upon the faid complaint, and to put order thereto, as effeirs.

Anent the complaint made upon John Sinclair, Vicar of Boltoun, That having purchased a prefentation of the faid benefice, after that he had required Mr David Lindfay, Commiffioner for the bounds, where the faid benefice lieth, to give him collation thereof; being refufed be him be reafon of the acts of the Kirk, purchased a new presentation to the Bishop of Sanct Andrews to the fame effect, with charges to him, under the paine of horning, to give him collation, at whose hand be an Atturney he received collation; as alfwa inftitution by Atturneyes, who brake up the kirk doors, as was alledged, and entered be force therein: The Generall Affembly, after calling of the faid John, ordained him to produce his prefentation, collation and inftitution of the faid benefice before them the morn to be confidered.

Seffio 4a.

Anent the ordinance of the last Affembly concerning Mr John Colvils non refidence: The Affembly committs the execution of the faid ordinance to the Commiffioner for the bounds where the kirk lyeth, with the affiftance of the brethren of his Exercife; and that the famen be execute with all diligence, as they will anfwer to the Kirk.

Anent the Reader of Edelston, alledged not placed be any Commiffioner of the Kirk : The Affembly found, That the Commiffioner of that Countrey have tryal of his qualities and life; and if he find him able to ferve the cure, to admitt him, and caufe him to be booked; otherwife to reject him, and difcharge him of his office. C.]

Touching the Epiftle prefentit be Alexander Arbuthnot to be prefixt to the Byble: The brether hes defyrit the Moderatour and his Affeffours to reid and confider the fame, together with the Calender to be prefentit be Mr Robert Pont, and to give thair judgements therof the morne.

Seffio 5a.

[Mr Ninian Dalyell, Schoolmafter of Dumfreis, compeared, and was accused, That he had privilie profeffed papistrie, and had corrupted the youth with erroneous doctrine in fundrie points; and, namely, that he had alledged, that the facrament cannot be miniftred but be a priest, had affirmed the reality of the facrament, the vifibility and fucceffion of the Kirk, and other like heads: He answered, That he had never affirmed fuch heads, and craved only reafoning and conference upon the vifibility and fucceffion of the Kirk: As to the rest he doubted not.

Mr Gilbert Broun was accufed, That having participat of the facrament in Sanct Andrews, fubfcribed the articles there, and yet had made apoftacy again: It was therefore ordained, be vertue of the faid admiffion, he fhould underly the cenfures of the Kirk. C.]

Anent the buriall of the bodie of the Erle of Athoill of good memorie : The Kirk thoght meit to direct from the Affemblie Mr Johne Row and Johne Durie [to the Lords] to defyre of them, that all fuperftitioun be avoidit therat; quho reportit that they had made information to thair Honours, That the brute was of fome fuperftitious rites, quhilk were prepared for the buriall, as a whyt croffe in the mort claith, lang gownes with ftroupes, and torches; quher anfuer was, That it was not a croffe, and grantit the gownes, and denyit the torches; alwayes defyrit the Kirk to direct two to fie, if fick things as was prepared were fuperftitious, and they fould be reformit: according quherto were immediatlie [fent to them] David Fergusone, John Brand and Johne Durie, to declare, The Kirk thoght the croffe and the ftroupes fuperftitious and ethnick lyke, and defyrit them to remove the fame; quho returnit with anfuer, That the Lords fould cause cover the mort claith with black velvett, and the ftroupes fould be removit.

Anent the act made in the laft Affemblie concerning the fufpenfioun of Visitors fra giving collatioun of benefices to any person by the Ministers ferving actually at the Kirks, quher the faids benefices lyis: The Affemblie ordaines the faid act to ftand in full effect and ftrenth quhill the nixt Affemblie, quher the matter beand newlie proponit, may be farther refolvit.

The brether thoght good, that the late conference, haldin at Stirling be

fick as the King appointit therto, fould be red, fein and conferrit with the Booke of Policie, to fie quherin the faid conference aggries with the conclufioun already of the Kirk.

CAP. 1.

Concerning the doubt made vpon the fecond article of the faid cap. : The Kirk explaines that article, and declares, it is vnderstood both of the Particular Prefbytrie and Generall Kirk.

The fourth article is thoght plaine enough.

Aggriet to the delatione containit in the fixt article.

The nint article, the Kirk thinks good it stand as it is in the Booke. And the twelve ficklyke.

13, The Kirk eiks to the word governement this word, difcipline. The tent article to remaine vnalterit.

Seffio 6a.

The Kirk present willit [their brethren, to wit,] Mrs Andro Melvill, Andro Hay, Johne Craig, William Chriftefone and the Laird of Lundie to conveine in the place of the Affemblie, and to vifite the anfuer givin in be Mr Patrick Adamfone, to the removeing of the corruptions in the Estate of Bifchops, and to give thair judgement thervpon the morne.

Seflio 7

[Anent the apoftacie and defection of Mr Ninian Dalyell, Mafter of the Grammar School of Dumfries, from the true religion of Jefus Christ profeffed be him before, and corrupting the youth of his fchool with papistrie, confeffed in prefence of this Affemblie:] The Affemblie, [after good deliberation, and] weyand the apoftafie of Mr Niniane Dalyell Mafter of the Grammar School of Dumfries, depofit him fimpliciter from the functioun of the Ministrie in tyme comeing, and fufpends him from teaching the schoole and zouth, quhill as good experience be had of them of his good lyfe and behaviour, as they have of his defectioun [and apoftacie ;] and, in the meane tyme, ordaines ane of the Doctours in the schoole, if he be found

in religioun, to teach the schoole of Dumfreis [during that tyme ;] and farder ordaines him publicklie, in face of the haill Affemblie, to confeffe his offence, and therafter to paffe to the towne of Dumfreis, and vther parts of the countrey quher he hes abused the simple peiple; and lykewayes publicklie in prefence of the Commiflioner confeffe the fame, revokeand the faids errours, and profeffand the contrair, craveing God and his Kirk pardon therfoir, and that immediatlie after his and the Commiffioners hame paffing, vnder the paine of excommunication.

[Anent the commiffion given to the Minifters of Edinburgh, and certain other brethren and their collegues, concerning the charging of Mr Patrick Adamfon to remove the corruptions of the state of Bishops in his perfon, and tryal of certaine complaints made upon him ; and alfo concerning Mr Robert Hammilton, as the commiflion given in the last Affembly beareth: The Generall Affemblie, after publick reading of the procefs led be the faid brethren, and of the particular anfwer made be the faid Mr Patrick to every head of the faid corruption, as alfua after reasoning had be Mr James Martin, Mafter of Salvators Colledge, Commiffioner for the University, with the faid Mr Robert, in one voice give power and commiffion to the faid brethren, Commiffioners of before, to goe foreward in the faid commiffion given to them in the faid last Assemblie, and to charge him yet to remove the particular corruptions, whereunto he had not agreed yet in his anfwer; and if he refufeth, to execute their former commiffion in all points: As likeways gives power and commiffion to their faid brethren to fummond the faid Mr Patrick to compear before them in Edinburgh, at a reasonable day, with convenient diligence, and to charge him with the particular offences following, to wit, That he having fubmitted him to the Affembly of the Kirk, immediately after his fubmiffion, paft and voted in Parliament; fecondly, That he had given collation to John Sinclar of the Vicarage of Bolton, having no power of Vifitation; thirdly, That he had agreed to all the heads of the Policie, except four, and yet came against the famen; fourthly, Had caufed remove Mr Alexander Jerdan from the kirk of Monymaill, being his own kirk; fifthly, Had commanded a Reader in Fife refign the manfe and kirk land to another and upon all these feveral heads to receive his feveral anfwers, to be reported again to the next Affemblie. C.]