ifteris, or ony fik effential cenfouris, fpeciall groundit, and havand warrand of the word of God.

Item, Oure faid Souerane Lord, and Eftaittis of Parliament foirfaidis, abrogatis, caffis, and annullis, the XX act of the fame Parliament haldin at Edinburgh, the faid geir, ane thousand, five hundredth, fourfcoir, four geiris, granting commiflion to bifchoppis and vtheris iuges, conftitute in ecclefiafticall caufes, to reffaue his Hienis prefentatioun to benefices, to gif collatioun thairvpon, and to put ordour in all caufes ecclefiafticall: quhilk his Maieftie and Eftaittis forefaidis, declairis to be expyrit in the self, and to be null in tyme cuming, and of nane availl, force, nor effect. And thairfoir ordainis all prefentationis to benefices, to be direct to the particular Presbiteries, in all tyme cuming; with full power to thame to giff collationis thereupon; and to put ordour to all materis and caufes ecclefiafticall, within thair boundis, according to the difcipline of the Kirk: Providing the foirfaidis Presbiteries be bund and aftriétit to reffaue and admitt quhatfumeuir qualifiet minifter prefentit be his Maieftie, or vther laic patrounes.

Ordanis the Prefbitries quhilk as git hes not gottin in the voluntare contrubutiouns within thair bounds appointit for the Kingis garde to travell diligentlie therin, and quhat beis reffauit to caus be fend to Edinburgh to Alexander Lawson, with the names of fik as refufis, and maks not payment betuix and the laft day of May nixtocum.

As to James Anderfon

xv merkis, his

the Minister of Dundy xxiiij ti, Mr Wm Methven for Dwns xxij ti, and laft ordans thame to caus the fame be deliuerit to the faid Alexander. Anent the fupplicatioun of the paroch of Derfy.

(Tak in the bill and anfuer.)

Ordaines fupplicatioun to be maid in Parliament, that in all kirkis, alfweill Abbay and Cathedrall Kirks, as vtheris quhatfumever, quher ather the haill parochin is kirkland, or ane part therof onelie, and ther has beine nather manfe nor gleib knawin to apperteine therto of auld, or gif ther hes beine ony, and the fame nocht extendis to fowre aiker of land, That the Eftaits of the Parliament mak the act afor concerning the defignatioun of manffes and gleibis to be extendit to all the forfaid kirks, and that ther be four aiker of kirk land defignit and grantit to the Minifter maift commodious and eweft the kirk, quhidder ther hes beine na gleib ther or not, or ane part onelie, not extending to four aiker of land.

The Generall Affemblie of the Kirk gives full power to the rycht honorabill George Erle Marfchell, the Laird of Doune, gounger, the Laird of Cors, elder and younger, the Proveft of Aberdeine, Allexander Rutherfurde, Allexander Cullane, burgefs ther, Mr Andro Meluill, Rector of Sanct Androis, Mr Robert Pont, Mr Dauid Lyndfay, Mr Peter Blackburne, Mr Dauid Cwnynghame, Mr Johne Johneftoun, Mr Thomas Buchannane, Mr Johne Spottifwod, Minifteris of the Evangell, Mr Robert Wylkie, Principall of Sanct Leonards, or to the maist part of the said bretherne, to conveine togidder, and vifit the Colledge of Auld Aberdeine, ther to try and examine the doctreine, lyfe, and deligence of the Maisteris therof; difcipline and ordour vfit be thame; as als the ftait of the rent of the faids Colledges: And quher thay find abuis, fa far as thay may poffiblie, to reforme; remittand to the Affemblie fick thingis as thay can not, to be takin ordour with be thame: and this tryell to begin the laft day of August nixt; ordaining, in the meane tyme, that quhill thair cuming that na novatioun he maid ather be fetting of new taks, confermeing of auld, or electioun of ony new Maifter; and all things to ftand ower in the eftait thay ar in prefentlie: firme and ftable halding and for to hald all and quhatfumever the faids brether or maist part of thame in the premiffes laufullye to be done and ordaines thair procedingis to be reportit to the nixt Generall Affemblie of the Kirk.

Acta Seffione octaua, Eodem die.

Anent the provifioun of the Kirk of Lucheris: In refpect the haill Affemblie hes nominat Mr Johne Kynnier to be prefentit to the faids parochineris be the Prefbiterie of Sanet Androis to be thair Paftour, and to be tryit in doctrine, lyfe and converfatioun; and gif the faids parochiners hes na juft of his refuffall, to be admitit be the faid Prefbiter

rie to the ministrie of the faid kirk.

Anent Colledges and rentis therof: The Affemblie hes ordaneit that na difpofitioun of the leving and rentis therof, be tak or vther titile, be maid without the adwyfe and consent of the Affemblie Generall, vnder the pane of depofitioun of the perfouns doing in the contrair.

Anent the refidence of Minifteris: For furthering of the refidence of fik Paftours as for lack of manffes are not refident, it is refoluit and aggreit

that every parochin, quher the Paftours manfe is owther rowinous or altogither laikes, be ordainit to repare and build the samein manse vpon thair awin expenfes, with ftane, timber, and all vther materialls, workmanschip, cariage, and vther things neidfull for the repairing and bigging therof; quhilk if they failzie and refufe to doe, being dewlie requyrit, they fall not only, fo many as refufes, be haldin be the Kirk the haill caufe of thair Paftours non refidence, bot also it falbe laufull to the aires, executours and affignays of the Minister or Reider departing, or himselfe during his tyme, to retaine the poffeffioun of the manfs buildit be him, in cace he build the famein vpon his awin expenffis after the refufeall of the parochiners, ay and quhill the [next] intrant Minifter or Reidar refound to him, his aires, executours and affignayis, the haill expenfis made be him for repairing and building, at the leift fo mikle therof as the parochin cannot be movit to refound; and that the Prefbytrie, at the intrants admiffioun, fall take ordour for the performance [heirof]; provyding that the expenffis [to] be made be the faid Paftour or Reider exceid not foure hundreth marks; and that the Prefbytrie, after the repairing or bigging of the faid manfs, tak the exact tryall and compt of his [faid] expenflis, and give him thair allowance thervpon, to be registrat in thair bookes: And this act to extend to them afweill that are alyve and hes alreadie biggit, as to them that are to bigge and repaire heirafter. And lykewayes the fecond and thrid Minister or Reidar, and confequently the fucceffours to the Ministers quher the manfs is biggit, fall have the lyke title to crave of the intrant after him the faids expenffis, quhilk he hes depurfit to his predeceffours, ay and quhill the parochiners redeime and outquyte the faid manfs or biggings therof, to be made frie therafter to the intrant Minister or Reidar.

Ordaines Mr Samell Chalmer to report the anfueris of the Kirk to his Hienes articles.

Anent the vifitatioun of the buik of deligence produceit be Mr Robert Pont concerning his vifitatioun of the bounds of Orknay, Jetland &c. : The bretherne appointit to fichting therof, reportit thay had found great deligence vfit be him, and all thingis orderlie proceidit in vfing his faid commiflioun; and therfor the faid Affemblie approveit his faids labouris and all things done be him in the faid vifitatioun, and speciallie in depofing of the perfouns not making refidence.

Anent the proces produceit be the Prefbiterie of Stirling concerning the mater of the parochiners of Eglifhame: The Kirk ordaines thair

brether, Mr Robert Pont, Mr Andro Meluill, to vifit the proces and gif thair judgement to the Affemblie the morne at meiting.

Ane writting being prefentit in the behalf of my Lord Sempill, haveing creadit gevin to him therin: The Affemblie ordainit his creadit to be commwnicat to the brether of the Conferance the morne.

In respect the Kingis Majeftie his Commiffioner is to depart for certane adois, thairfor the Affemblie, in his prefence, hes appointit thair nixt Generall Affemblie to be at Edinburgh the first Twyfday of May cum ane geir.

Acta Seffione nona, octauo Aprilis 1593.

Anent the fupplicatioun prefentit to the Affemblie be the Laird of Vrie, and Hary Drummond, burges of Aberdeine, defireing ane continewatioun of tyme to confer with bretherne, and to be refolueit with the heids of religioun, that therefter thay may fubfcrybe the Confeffioun of Fayth; and ficlyk, anent the fuite maid be Mr Thomas Menzeis, burges of Aberdeine, to reffave his confeffioun and fubfcryptioun of the articles of religioun prefentlie profeffit within this realme: The faid Affemblie and Commiffioneris prefent haveing advyfit therwith, hes ordinet the faidis perfouns to refort to the bretherne of the Presbiterie of Edenburgh, to confer and be refoluit in all doutis thay have concerning the faid religioun; and being refoluit, to fatiffie the said Presbiterie in all things, according to the ordour to be takin be thame, to quhome the Kirk gevis power to tak ordour theranent; and in caice thay fatiffie the said Prefbiterie, as faid is, that thay gif to thame ane teftimoniall of thair fatiffactioun ; cautioun alwayis being first takin befor the Kings Majeftie and his Counfell for performeing of fick thingis as thay fall promes and fubfcryve to do to the faid bretherne and that ane writing be direct frome this Affemblie, informand the Erle Merschell of thair proceidingis heirin.

Anent the proces deduceit be the Prefbiterie of Stirling in the mater concerning the parochiners of Eglifhame and Mr Andro Boyd: The Generall Affemblie of the Kirk hes ordinet and ordaines that thair brether John Porterfeild, and Mr Andro Knox travill erneftlie and effectiouflie, in name of the haill Kirk, with the Maifter of Eglintoun in fauouris of the faid Mr Andro, that, gif it be poffible with his guid will and fauour,

the faid Mr Andro may ferve at the Kirk of Eglifhame, but trubill or impediment to be maid to him in ony fort, and that with all guid deligence : And in caice the Maifter can not be moveit heirto, that the faid breither mak intimatioun of his refuffell to the bretherne of the Prefbiterie of Edinburgh, to quhome the Kirk gevis power to tak ordour therin as thay fall find beft for the weill of the Kirk and the glorie of God.

Forfamekill as ther is ane Parliament to be haldin fhortlie in Junij next, quhervnto many thingis concerning the Kirk ar to be proponit, and that the full Affemblie can not be conveinit therto, in refpect of the Affemblie now haldin; thairfor the haill Affemblie hes ordanit that ane broder or tua be direct from everie Presbiterie within this realme, to conveine the tyme of the Parliament in the place quher the fame falbe haldin, to confult, treit, refone and conclud, vpon fik heids, articlis, petitiouns, and fupplicatiouns, as thay fall think meitt to be craveit and concludit be confent of Parliament, for the glorie of God, and for the well and confort of his Generall Kirk within this realme: Quhilkis bretherne fall have the power of the faid Generall Affemblie, and proceid as the fame mycht do gif the haill number wer prefent.

The quhilk day, efter the reafouns war hard and difcuffit, contenit in the appellatioun prefentit to the Generall Affemblie be Mr Andro Joung, Minifter at Dumblane, the Generall Affemblie ordanes the Prefbitrie of Dumblane to be tranfportit to Ochtirardour, with libertie to the bretherne of Dumblane appeiling to refort ather to Auchterardour or Stirling, as thay pleis; provyding alwayis, that in caice the gentill and nobil men quha hes fubferyvit to affift the Prefbitrie in Auchterardour, or vthers that fall happin to fubfcryve the fame heirefter, gif inftructioun to the bretherne to compleine of breking thair promeis; and forder, in caice the Kirk of Auchterardour be not repaird fufficientlie betuix and the nixt Generall Affemblie; or in caice ane fufficient ftipend be not provydit for ane Minifter, that he may mak refidence at Auchterardour with manfe, gleib: In thir caices or ony of thame, the Prefbitrie falbe reestablishit in Dumblane; and ordanis the Prefbiteries of Stirling and Perth to establishe the said Presbiterie in Auchterardour vpon Thurfday cum xv dayis, and constitute the famyn of the kirks containit in the roll of the Synodall Assemblie; libertie being alwayis referuit to the breder of Dumblane, quhidder thay will cheis to be of the Prefbitrie of Auchterardour or Stirling.

Forfamekill as in the Synodall Affembleis the buiks of particular Prefbi