poffeft be the faids Bifchops; the Kirk referres the reasoning therof to the nixt Affemblie.

Seffio 5a.

[Forfameekle as commiffion was given to Mr John Row, Commiffioner of Dunkell, to charge Mr James Paton to demitt the Bishoprick of Dunkell, &c., under the paine of excommunication; and if he disobeyed, after admonitions, to proceed with excommunication against him, as the faid commiffion bears; wherein nottheless there is nothing proceeded: The Affembly therefore hath ordained, and ordaines the Commiffioner that fhall be appointed to the visitation of thefe bounds, to put the said commiffion in all points to due execution, according to the tenor thereof, under the pain of fufpenfion of the faid Commiffioner from his function and ministrie. And because decreets already given be the faid Affemblie against him, for dilapidation of the patrimonie of the Kirk; whereunto yet he hath provided no remedie, nor any wife repaired the prejudice done to the Kirk therefore the Affembly giveth their full commiffion and power to the fame Commiffioner, to charge the faid Mr James to repair the hurt done be him to the Kirk be his dilapidation, and unjuft alienation of the patrimonie thereof, under the paine of excommunication and if he disobey, after admonitions, to pronounce the sentence thereof against him, with all diligence, betwixt and the next Generall Affembly, under the pain of fufpenfion of the faid Commiffioner from his faid function of Ministrie: and further to try if the faid Mr James hath ufurped the pretended office of a Bishop upon him, fince the giving furth of the fentence of depofition be the Generall Affemblie against him: and what shall be done in the execution thereof, to report again to the next Generall Affembly of the Kirk.

Seffio 6a.

Ordaines the Bishops of Brechin, Argile, Ifles, Orkney, and Caithnes, to be fummoned to compear before the next Generall Affemblie, the third day thereof, to answer to fuch things as the Affemblie fhall inquire of them, as they will anfwer upon their obedience to the Affemblie; and ordaines them to be warned be the brethren after following, to wit, the

Bishops of Argile and the Ifles by Mr Robert Montgomerie; the Bishop of Brichin by Mr John Hepburn; the Bishop of Orkney be John Brand; and the Bishop of Cathness be Mr Thomas Buchanan. C.]

Forfameikle as albeit ther be diverfe acts concludit in fundrie Affemblies of befor, to [bridle and] stay vniust alienatioun, difpofitioun, and wafting of the Kirk rents and patrimonie therof, be fick persons within the Ministrie as are cled with benefices; and nottheless, neither respect nor feare of God, nor reverence to his Kirk, nor good laws fett out in the contrair, hes repreft thair infatiable and curfed avarice from fick inordinat dealing, to the greit and heavie prejudice of the Kirk of God, and commoun greife and regrate of all good men For better remeid quherof, the [haill] brethren affemblit, after [long] reafoning and mature deliberatioun of the matter, in vniformity of votes, hes thoght meitt and concludit, That all persons within the Miniftrie, afweill they that vfurps the style of Bifchops as vthers, that falbe tryit heirafter to diminisch the rents of thair benefices, either be diminution of the auld rentall, be setting of victuall at small pryce and within the worth, or vtherwayes vniuftly dilapidating and putting away the rent therof, be the fight and judgement of the General Affembly, fall vnderly the fentence of excommunicatioun, but farder [proces.]

For purgatioun of the Kirk fra flander: The Kirk requyres, and, in the name of God, defyres all men, afweill gentlemen as vthers conveinit at this tyme, if they knaw any within the Ministrie flanderous in life, vnable to teach, vnprofitable or curious teachers, negligent in preaching, non refidents or deferters, havers of pluralitie of benefices and offices, diffolute in manners, haveand mixt jurifdictiouns, givers of penfiouns out of benefices, or receivers therof, to give in thair names in a tickett to the Moderatour and his affeffours, the morne at vij houres in the morning, that order may be takin with them be the Moderatour and his affeffours, if prefent ordour may be had therwith; vtherwayes to report to the Affemblie.

Anent the office of Reidars that hes no farther gift of God bot fimple reiding of the Scriptures: The Generall Affemblie hes concludit, after long reafoning, That thair office is no ordinar office within the Kirk of God and because fome of the brether movit the question, Whither, in refpect of thair neceffitie and circumftance of tyme, they fould be fufferit to continue, the disputation heirof was remittit to the morne.

Seffio 7a

William Stewart, brother to the Laird of Traquair, prefentit ane wryting to the Affemblie in name of the Erle of Lennox, [directed be his Lordfhip to them.] The tenour therof [followeth :]

[Salute with peace through Jefus Christ our Lord. C.]

It is not, I think, vnknowin to gou, how it hes pleafed God of his [infinit] goodness to call me be his grace [and mercy,] to the knowledge of my falvation fince I came into this land; quherfor I render most earnestlie humble thanks vnto his divyne Majeftie, finding my voyage toward thir parts moft happilie beftowit in this refpect: And althogh I have made opin declaratioun of this my calling, firft, be my awin mouth in the Kirk of Edenburgh, and nixt, be my hand wryte in the Kings Kirk at Striveling, quher I fubferyvit the confeflion of my faith; get I fand it was my duetie, ge being generallie conveinit, to fend this gentleman, my cufing and freind, accompanied with my letter towards gou, to make gou, in my name, frie and humble offer of dew obedience, and to receive your will in any thing it fall please zou I did farder anent the accomplishing of my faid confeffion affureing zou that I falbe readie to perform the famein with all humilitie; as alfo to promove and advance all vther things that may further the glorie of God and increafe of his Kirk, the commoun wealth of the countrey, and Kings Majefties fervice at my vtter poffibilitie: And fo hoping to be participant in all tymes coming of gour godlie prayers and favour, I falute gou most lovingly in Jefus Chryft our Saviour. From Sanct Androes, the 14 day of Julij. Sic fubfcribitur,

Your humble and obedient at all power,

[To the Generall Affemblie prefently conveened at Dundie. C.]

LENNOX.

The Generall Affemblie hes concludit, That all reidars within this realme falbe tryed and examined de novo be the Commiflioners of the Countreyes, with the advyfe of thair affeffours, fo farre as poffible they may, betuixt and the nixt Generall Affemblie; and fo many as beis found to be tryit to have travellit in reiding be the space of two geirs, and hes

not so profited that they are able to be paftors and preach the word of God, falbe depofit from the reiding be the faids Commiflioners, with aflistance of thair faids affeffours; and the diligence to be done heirin to be reportit againe to the nixt Generall Convention of the brether.

Sicklyke, because Reidars hes no ordinar office within the Kirk of God, the Generall Affembly [hath declared and] declares, That no fimple Reider falbe capable of any benefice, or bruik or poffeffe the fame in tyme [cuming,] or get bruik or joyfe the manse or gleib, quher ther is any Minister actually ferving.

[Anent the Kings proclamation lately set forth concerning papists, and the diligence done be the Commiffioners of Countries for execution of their duty in that point: In refpect that fundrie of the Minifters pretended ignorance of the said proclamation,] The Affemblie hes recommendit the execution of the Kings proclamatioun concerning papifts, vnto the haill Commiflioners, as they will anfuer vnto his Hienes and the Kirk.

[For as much as the Affembly mindeth to direct certain articles and petitions to the Kings Hienes and Council, and that] It is thocht meitt to crave of his Hienes, That the Kirk of God within this realme may be restoreit to the benefite of the act of Parliament made concerning the Thrids, in refpect of the many and greivous hurts quhilk the Kirk recognofces to have receivit be the takeing away of the faid act from them: Therfor it is thocht expedient, that the Moderatour [conferr] with fick as are affeffours to him vpon the articles; and namely vpon the article of repofition and restitution; [and their advice] to be prefentit againe to the Kirk, and confidderit be commoun advyce and confent of the haill Kirk.

Seffio 8a.

Compeirit Mr Hendrie Keir, fervitour to the Erle of Lennox, and declarit, That albeit he had long remainit in blindnes and papistrie, it pleafit God to illuminate him [after his long blindness and rebellion, and to call him to the knowledge of the true word, quherin, be his grace, he is now refolvit, acknowledging the fame word to be truelie preachit and profeft within this realme, and be act of Parliament establischit, and to be the only true religioun of God; quherto he is content, either now, or quhen the Kings

Majefties house beis fettled, with his heart to fubfcrive, at the will of the Kirk, and as they fall think beft.

[Forafmuch as, be the confufion and misorder of the plurality of kirks sustained in the person of one Pastor or Minister, the flocks of Chrift Jefus univerfally throughout the realme are overfeen, and deftitute of the true food of their fouls, difcipline and good order is allutterly neglected, and the confciences of the Paftors burthened with heavier charges nor they may comport with; whereas be the word of God, every feveral congregation ought to be provided of their own Paftor: C.] It is [therefore] be vote of the haill Affemblie, after lang difputatioun [in the matter,] refolvit and concludit, That it is not lawfull be the word of God, that ane [Minister or] Paftour be burdenit with the charge of feiding of twa particular flockis, or mair congregatiouns nor ane, or be callit Paftor of mair kirks

nor ane.

[For as much as divers perfons with this realme profeffing the true religion, presently established within the fame, before their departure furth thereof to France and other parts, have declined fincefyne to idolatrie and papistrie, paft to the maffe, and now returned within the country, to the great flander of the Kirk: For remedy hereof,] The Generall Affemblie of the Kirk hes ftatute, That Commiffioners of Countreyes fall call perfons, who hes, after thair profeffioun of religioun within the countrey, declynit to idolatrie, and now returnit within the countrey, ilk ane within thair awin bounds, befor thair Synodall Affemblies, and accufe them therof: and if they be tryit to have committit the faid defectioun, to charge [every one so tried] to make repentance therof, vnder the paine of excommunicatioun; and if they diffobey, to be excommunicat be fick perfons to be appoyntit be the faids Synodall Affemblies to that effect, laufull admonitiouns preceidand; and if they offer obedience and [to make their] repentance, to fuperfeid the taking therof, the forme of the fame to be advyfit on [in] the nixt Generall Affemblie; fufpending them, in the meane tyme, from the participation of the facraments quhill the faid Affemblie; and heirin to report thair diligence thereto, as they will anfuer to God: and the fame ordour to be obfervit with them that willinglie acknowledges the faid defectioun, and comes and offers thair repentance.

Compeirit Captaine Anftruther, and lamentit to the Kirk, that he beeand in France, and certaine geirs bypast had givin his bodilie prefence to the Mefs, albeit in his confcience he hattit the fame as idolatrie, and keipit