The observation of the Sabbath, taking away of the mercats, and fuch lyke: The deputs thought meet, That a fupplication fould be given to the Council, with the judgement of the Affembly thereanent, whereunto the Affembly agreeing appointed Mr David Lindsay and John Duncanfon to pen the famen betwixt and five hours.

As for the Collectorie, and Book of Policie, They should take order before the time of the Parliament: It was answered, That it belonged to the Kirk to provide for the Collectory according to their own libertie, granted be act of Parliament.

As to the Policy: It was required that instantly time and place be appointed, perfons chofen to conferr with their Commiffioners, that all things may be duely advised upon befor the Parliament: Upon this heid they promised to advise with the Council. C.]

Seffio 6a.

According to the ordinance made gesterday, all perfons that hes any reasonable doubt or argument to propone agains the heids of the Policie, were requyrit to propone the fame; and nane offerit any [reafon or] argument in the contrair.

[The Affembly continues the Commiffioners of Provinces in their office and charge of commiffion till the next Affembly. C.]

Seffio 78.

Forfameikle as ther is great corruption in the eftate of Bifchops, as they are presentlie made in this realme, quhervnto the Kirk wald provyde fome stay in tyme comeing, fo farre as they may, to the effect farther corruptioun may be brydlit: Therfor the Kirk hes concludit, That no Bifchops falbe electit or made heirafter, befor the nixt Generall Affemblie; difchargeing all Minifters and Chapiters to proceid any wayes to electioun of Bifchops in the meanetyme, vnder the paine of perpetuall deprivatioun from thair offices; and that this matter

be proponit first in the nixt Affemblie, to be confultit quhat farder ordour falbe tane therin.

Anent benefices vakand in the kirks quher ther is qualified Ministers ferving The Kirk hes determinat and ordained, That no Vifitors of Countreyes give collation of the faids benefices to any vther perfon by the Minister of the kirk quherof the benefice vaikes, quhill the nixt Generall Affemblie of the Kirk, vnder the paine of deprivation from thair offices: and if they be vrgeit be the Princes letters therto, to fhew this ordinance for thair defence; and that this fame matter be proponit in the nixt Afsemblie, that ordour may be takin therin.

[Item to confult in the next Affembly, what order fhall be taken with Minifters, who fet fewes and takes of their benefices, or the Chaptours that consent thereto; ficklyke with them that send their children to Univerfities where papistrie is taught. C.]

Seffio 8a.

Forfameikle as the Generall Kirk hes thocht meitt that the travells tane be them vpon the Policie be prefentit to the Kings Majeftie and his Hienes Counfell: It was found good, That befor the copies therof were delyverit, they fould be get revewit and overfein be Mrs. Robert Pont, James Lowfone and David Lindefay; and beand wrytin over according to the originall, ane copie to be prefentit be them to his Hienes, with a fupplication pennit be them to that effect, with ane vther copie to the Counsell; the tyme to be at the difcretioun of the faid brether, fo it be befor the generall Faft: And in cace conference and reasoning be craveit vpon the faids heids, the kirk hes nominat Mrs Johne Craig, Alexander Arbuthnot, the Laird of Dune, William Chryftefone, Johne Row, David Fergusone, Robert Pont, James Lowfone, David Lindefay, Johne Duncanfone, Andro Melvill, Andro Hay and James Greig, to concurre and conveine at fick tymes appointed be the King and Counfell, as advertisement fall be made to them be the said thrie brether ; and that the faids Commiffioners at the faid Conference reafon also on the heid of the ceremonies; and how farre Ministers may meddle with civill affaires, and if they may vote in Counsell or Parliament.

The Generall Affemblie of the Kirk finding the vniverfall corruption of the haill Estates of the body of this realme, the great caldness and slack

nes of religioun in the greatest part of the profeffours of the fame; with the daylie increase of all kynd of fearefull fins and enormities, as inceft, adulterie, murder, and namelie, recentlie committed in Edenburgh and Striveling, curfed facriledge, vngodlie feditioun and divifioun within the bowells of the realme, with all manner of diffordourit and vngodlie living, quhilk juftlie hes [moved and] provockit our God, althogh long fuffering and patient, to ftretch out his arme in his anger and to correct and visite the iniquitie of the land, and namely be the prefent feueritie of famine and hunger, joinit with the civill and domeftick feditiouns, quhervnto doubtles greater judgements muft fucceid, if these his correctiouns worke no reformatioun nor [true] amendement in mens hearts; feeing alfo the bloodie conclufiouns of the cruell counfells of that Romane beaft, tending to extermine and raze from the face of all Europe the true light of the bleffed word of falvatioun: For these causes, and that God of his mercie wald bleffe the Kings Hienes and his regiment, and make him to have a happie and profperous government, as also to put in his Hienes heart, and in the hearts of his noble Estates in Parliament, not only to make and establisch good and politick lawes for the weill and good government of the realme; but also to fett and establish fick a policie and discipline in the Kirk as is craveit in the word of God, and is conceivit and pennit already to be prefentit to his Hienes and Counfell; that in the ane and the vther, God may have his due praise, and the age to come ane example of vpright and godlie living and dealing: [The Generall Affembly therefore hath concluded, That an univerfall Faft shall be keeped through all the Kirks of this realme, to beginne the first Sunday of June next to come, and to continue till the next Sunday thereafter inclufive, keeping the accustomed use of exercise according to the Book of Public Fafting; and that this act be intimat to the King his Majestie and Counsell, and his Grace and Counfell humbly required to discharge be proclamatioun, all kind of infolent playes, as Robin Hood, King of May, and fuch like, in all perfons, as well scholers as others, under fuch paines as they shall think good. C. & B.]

Seffio 9a.

[The brethren appointit to travell with the Lords of the Kings Majefties Counfell, which were nominat by the Generall Affembly of the Kirk, fufpect

in religion, reportit, That the Erle of Cathnes defyrit to fie the articles of religion which he was defired to fubfcrive, and he should give his answer. My Lord Ogilvie declarit, That he had subscryvit the Articles of religion, and receivit the Communioun befor he paft out of the countrey, and if any man doubted of his profeffion, he was content to fubfcrive the faids articles, and to participat the fupper of the Lord. As to my Lord Chancellour and the Erle of Montgomerie, they had not commoditie to meit with them, and now are both off the Toun. The Affembly ordained the Ministers and Seffion of Edinburgh, or the Minister of the Castle of Stirline, to admonish and require the faids Lords to fubfcryve the Articles of religion prefently profeffed within this realme, and to participat the holy Communion, in cafe they refort within their bounds: Otherways ordaines the Ministers and Seffiouns of these townes quher they fall happin to make repaire, to admonisch them in lyke manner; and if they find diffobedience, after due admonitiouns, to proceed against them with the cenfures of the Kirk. C. & B.]

Mr Thomas Smeitoun [Minifter of Pafley] was nominat among the brether, to anfuer the bills.

Seffio 10a.

[It was proponed,] What falbe the punishment of communicants that violats the generall Faft: Anfuer, They fall make repentance twa feverall Sondayis; and according to the contempt in the violatioun, the paine to be aggravat.

The Convention nixt appointit at Edenburgh the 7 day of Julij nixt to come, in cace the Parliament already proclaimit hald fordwart; vther wayes, in cace that the fame hald any vther tyme betuixt and the twentie four day of October nixt to come, that the brether conveine in the place quher it falbe haldin for the tyme, four dayes befor the fame; and failgeand of baith, vpon the 24 day of October nixt to come, within the towne of Edenburgh.

A. D. M.D.LXXVIII.

THE Generall Affemblie conveinit at Striveling and begun the xj day of Junij 1578: Where ther was prefent the Commiffioners of Countreyes, Commiffioners from Synodall Affemblies, Townes, and Vniverfities.

Seffio 1a.

In reípect of the raritie of the Affemblie, [because the indiction therof at the last Affembly depended upon the tyme of holding the Parliament, which was prorogued, and transferred, and the time was fo fhort, that the whole countrie could not be advertised,] the brethren that were conveinit, thoght beft to meitt at two houres afternoone, and to fitt quhill fyve houres

at noone.

Seffio 2a.

Exhortation beeand made be Mr Andro Melvill, Moderatour of the laft Affemblie, befor farther proceiding, queftion beand proponit, If this Affemblie be ane continuation of the laft Affemblie, or ane new Affemblie : It was reafonit and concludit to be ane new Generall Affemblie. For electioun of ane Moderatour, Mrs Johne Row, David Fergusone and Johne Duncanfone was proponit in leits, and be pluralitie of votes Mr Johne Row, [Minister at Perth,] was chofen Moderatour.