Seffio 8a.

Anent the Bifchops or Commiflioners of Countreyes that abfents themfelves from Generall Affemblies at the tyme appointit: The Kirk hes ordainit the act made the 12 of August 1575, to be execute against them; and namely againft Sanct Androes, Murray and Aberdein, all abfent; and the said act not only to be vnderftand of Bifchops haveand office of Vifitatioun appointit to them be the Kirk, but fick alfo as hes not the faid office.. [Anent the commiflion given to Mr David Weemes to charge Mr James Boyd called Bishop of Glafgow, to remove the corruptions of the state of a Bishop in his perfon, &c. : For fhewing his diligence in this behalf, the faid Mr David produced an act subscribed with his hand, dated at Glasgow the 8th day of June 1579, where he willingly agreed to the act of the Affembly, made at Stirling the 1578, to wit, According to the duty of all faithfull Pastors he submitts himself in all points. C.]

day of

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Anent Jefuites remaining in the countrey: The Assemblie present hes vottit and concludit, That the Commissioners of Provinces take tryall, and diligentlie inquyre, if any fick perfons refort within the bounds of thair office; and if any be found, to charge [and command] them ftraitlie to give confeffioun of thair faith, revocke thair errours, subscryve the articles of religioun prefentlie eftablifchit be the mercy of God, within this realme; and if they refuse, to proceid with the fentence of excommunication agains them, befyd the civill punishment to be afkit of the Kings Hienes; and that this act be execute agains Mr Johne Hay.

Ordaines a fupplicatioun to be made to the King and his Counfell, That good ordour may be takin with the Vniverfitie of Sanct Androes, and the corruptioun reformed and tane away; and to that effect, that his Hienes and his Counsell wald direct fome wife, godly and learned men to confidder the estate [thereof,] and direct letters charging the Mafters and Regents of the faid Vniversitie to produce to fick as his Grace [and Counsell] fall nominat, with the brether eftir specifeit, in name of the Kirk, viz. Mrs Robert Pont, Johne Row, Andro Hay, Andro Melvill, Thomas Smei

toun and Thomas Buchannan, Minifters, the foundatiouns of thair Colledges to be fein and confidderit be them. To the quhilk brether the Kirk for thair pairt gives commiflion to concurre with the Kings Majefties Commiffioners, to take ordour [with,] and redreffe all fuch corruptiouns and defaults as appertaines to the Kirk, and in fo farre as they may doe.

Seffio 9a.

Mafter Niniane [Dalyell] produceit to the Affembly his opinion concerning the heids of the religioun quhilk are in contraverfie, fubfcrivit with his hand, aggrieing in all points with the opinion and judgement of the Kirk; proteftand befor God, that, for no favour nor feare of flesche, he affirmed the doctrine conteinit therin; bot is alwayes myndit to die and live in the fame.

[Anent the Commiffioners over Provinces: Seeing the brethren travell for the most part upon their own expenfs, and thereby the Kirks are not fo carefully vifited as duty requireth; therefor the Affembly thought meet, That in the fupplication to be given in to the Kings Majeftie and Council, be defired to make reasonable provifion for them, either out of the thrids of the benefices, or the two parts; whofe names elected till the next Affembly followes :

David Howiefon,

Boyn and Buchan from Etham, North.

Mr George Hay, The High of Marr and Garioch.

Mr George Paterfon :-The Laigh of Marr and Garioch, with the Kirks of Mernes beyond the Mount upon the Water.

Mr Andrew Graham :-Dumblane.

Mr Thomas Buchanan :-Fife in Sanct Andrews to Levin.

David Ferguson :-Ut prius, and to be payed for charge thereof to the

William Sanderfon :-Merce.

Mr Patrick Gaits :-Tiviotdail.

Mr Andrew Blackhall :-Tweddaill.

Mr Andrew Hay :-Cliddifdale, Renfrew, &c.

Mr Robert Lindfay :-From Lanerk up the Overward of Clidefdale. Mr John Young :-Kyle, Cuninghame.

Mr James Boyd :—Carict.

Mr Peter Watfon :-Nithifdale.

Mr David Lindlay :-Galloway. C.]

Seffio 10a.

The Generall Affemblie gives full power and commiflioun to [thair honourable brether,] the Lairds of Lundie, Braid, Elphingftoun, Carnel, Bargany, Careltoun, Abbotshall, Ceffurd, Coldenknowes, Patrick Kynninmont, with the Commiffioners appointit over the whole Provinces within this realme, be the faid Affemblie, Mrs Robert Pont, James Lowfone, Johne Craig, Johne Duncanfone, Minifters [of Chrifts Evangell,] Andro Melvill, Alexander Arbuthnot, with fick as fall have commiffioun and be direct from the Burrowis, or to the maist pairt of the faid number, To conveine [and affemble] quher it fall happin the Parliament to be haldin, two dayes befor the halding therof, and ther advyfe, conceive and forme fick heids and articles as they fall think meit to be proponit therto, in name of the Kirk, for the weill and manteinance of Gods glorie, and Policie of the Kirk of God; to defyre with all humilitie, and effectuously to crave the samein to be grantit; to conferre and reason ther vpon the faids heids, and fick as falbe proponit ther, ficklyke and as the faid Affemblie might doe, if they were prefent, firme and stabill &c.

The Generall Affemblie gives full power and commiflioun to thair lovit brethren, Johne Erfkine of Dun, Johne Duncanfone, [Minister of the Kings Majefties houfe,] Andro Hay, Johne Craig, Thomas Smeitoun, Minifters [of Chrifts Evangel,] and Andro Melvill, Principall of the

Colledge of Glasgow, to paffe to the Kings Majeftie and Counfell to Striveling, with convenient expeditioun, and to prefent vnto his Hienes and Counsell fick heids, articles and complaints as are givin and already delyverit to them be the Kirk; with humble inftance and reverence to crave and receive anfuer therof, and therin to travell effectuouflie and with diligence; and namely to make fute for the reformation of the Vniversitie of Sanct Androes, and that tyme may be appointit therto; quherof the faid Affemblie willed thair brether to make due advertisement vnto fick as the faid Affemblie hes namit for thair part: and quhat heiranent beis done to report againe to the nixt Affembly; firme and ftable haldand and for to hald quhatfoevir thair faid brether in the premiffes righteouflie leids to be done.

[The tenor of the Articles to be prefentit to the Kings Majestie be the Commiffioners of the Kirk of Scotland, conveined in the Generall Affembly thereof, at Edinburgh the 14 day of July 1579. C. & B.]

1. The Kirk craves [of the Kings Majeftie, that because many young scholars are sent out of this realme to Paris, and other Univerfities profeffing papistrie, wherethrough the youth of this realme is corrupted be pestilent poprie, in place of godly virtue,] That the Kings Majestie wald make generall prohibitioun, that none of the inhabitants of this realme fend thair children to Paris, or any vther Vniverfitie or Towne profeffing papistrie, vnder fick paines as his Hienes and his Counfell fall thinke expedient; [to the end, that the youth of this countrey be not brought up in Papistical fuperftition and idolatrie contrar to Chrifts religion.]

2. [The Affembly craveth of his Hienes, that becaus it is thought meet the University of Sanct Andrews be reformed,] That his Hienes wald caufe and compell the Provefts and Mafters of the Colledges of the Vniverfitie of Sanct Androes to [produce and] exhibite the erectiouns and foundations of the Colledgis within the faid Vniverfitie, to be confidderit be his Hienes and fick as his Grace fall appoint; also that the faids foundations may be fichtit, and reformation made theranent, as effeirs.

3. Because fome Jefuites are prefently within this countrey, That ordour may be takin with them, as effeirs, [feeing they are the peftilent dregs of moft deteftable idolatrie.]

4. Becaufe ane Minifter is not fufficient to awaite at all tymes vpon his Grace and his Hienes house, to preach, exhort, admonisch, and preserve perfyte difcipline within the fame; therfor the Kirk craves, That his Hienes wilbe content to name any vther Minifter within this realme, of best qualities, to be joynit with Johne Duncanfone, [his Hienes Minifter for the prefent,] that they may both be mutuall confent awaite vpon his Grace and the haill miniftrie of his house.

5. That because in the laft conference, haldin at Striveling be his Graces command, concerning the Policie of the Kirk, certaine articles theranent remaines get vnrefolved and referred to farder conference; therefor the Kirk craves at his Majeftie, That perfons vnfpottit with fick corruptions as are defyrit to be reformit, may be nominat be his Majeftie to proceid in the farther conference of the faid Policie; and tyme and place to be appointit for that effect.

6. Because the Kirk vnderstands that his Majeftie, be advyfe of his Secreit Counfell, direct letters oftentymes to flay the executioun of the acts of the Generall Affemblie; as alfo fummounds Minifters to take tryall of excommunication pronouncit be them according to the word of God, and difcipline of the Kirk; ftayes the producting of the fame, as the Commiffioners of the Kirk in particular will declare: That therfor his Majestie heirafter wald fuffer the acts of the Generall Affemblie to be put in executioun; and namelie that excommunication beand pronouncit, may have the dew executioun, without controlling therof befor his Majeftie and Secreit Counfell.

[Queftions proponit be the Synodall Affemblie of Lowthian to the Generall Affemblie; and the answers of the Affemblie thereto. C. & B.]

[Queftio. In the firft,] In respect of great inconveniences that hes infewit, and daylie does infew be Readers in vfeing thair office, the haill brether hes inhibite all Readers from miniftring the facraments and folemnization of marriage, permitting nothing vnto them but proclamatioun of the bands, and fimple reiding of the text; defyring ane vniforme ordour to be establishit be the acts of the Generall Affemblie through all provinces.