Seffio 2a.

In face of the Affemblie, Mr Johne Duncanfone, the Kings Majefties Minifter, prefentit his Hienes letter direct to the Affemblie, quhilk was red and humblie receivit, and ordained to be registrat in the Register of the Kirk, quherof the tenour followes :

Richt trustie and welbelovit, We greit zou heartlie weill. Vnderstanding of our prefent Affemblie at Edenburgh, and for the rumours that paffes of fome things to be intreatit among zou, that may feime prejudiciall to that good ordour of the government of the Kirk and ecclefiafticall policie heirtofoir lang travellit in and hopeit for, We have takin occaffion to fhew our mynd in this behalfe to the Minifter of our awin house and fome vthers of our awin number happening to be prefent with Vs, quhom in this cause We have thoght meitest to vse as our awin meflingers to carie our letter, quherby We heartlie defyre zou and effectuouflie admonisch gou, that in this our gong age, the tyme beand fubiect to fo many difficulties and imperfectiouns, to bestow gour common care and good will to intertaine peace and quyetnes in Gods feare and our due obedience; forbearing any proceiding at this tyme, that may touch matters heirtofoir not concludit be our lawis or receivit in practise: But quhatevir in the former conferences tuiching the policie of the Kirk, was remittit to be reafoned and decydit be our Estates in Parliament, let it fo reft without prejudging the fame with any of Jour conclufiouns at this tyme, fince our Parliament now fo shortlie approaches, and that We are weill pleasit [and content,] that before the fame fick matters as are not get fully reafonit, may be farther confultit vpon and prepared to paffe in forme of laws, and the meitest for that worke to be expreflie imployit therin; to the end that the things conferrit and aggreit vpon may be prefentit to our Eftates, to be approvit in our faid Parliament, and due execution to follow thereon for the advancement of Gods true religioun, and the repose of gou and vthers our good fubiects, the members of the Kirk of God within this realme: And for this cause, that ge will not only be the authors and perfwaders of commoun peace and concord amongst all of our awin function, but amongst all vthers our fubiects, afweill generallie as in the particular kirks quher ye travell, that fome men ovir buffie to worke the contrair effects, may find themselves diffapointit; and that our haill eftate, be gour example, may be rather dif

pofit [to conforme] themselves to a godlie and a peaceable course of living, quhilk we are affured falbe pleasing to God, and to Vs wilbe moft 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 Ministers 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 refused 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; firft, Because he found no concurrence in the Countrey; be reafon 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; 3dly, Nemo in fua patria propheta, therefor a stranger would doe more good in these places nor he being native in thefe 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 intifed the people within these bounds to papistrie, and yet made no tryal thereof; Sdly, That there yet stands an high altar in the New Abbay. He grants he had vifit only within fix miles to Dumfries, the reft 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 said 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 Lindsay, 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 whofe 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 laft Affembly concerning Mr John Colvils. non refidence: The Affembly committs the execution of the said 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 answer to the Kirk.

Anent the Reader of Edelfton, 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 discharge him of his office. C.]

Touching the Epistle 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 5.

[Mr Ninian Dalyell, Schoolmaster of Dumfreis, compeared, and was accused, That he had privilie profeffed papiftrie, 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 prieft, 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, subscribed 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 [sent 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 Vifitors fra giving collatioun of benefices to any perfon by the Ministers ferving actually at the Kirks, quher the faids benefices lyis: The Affemblie ordaines the said 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 second article of the said cap. : The Kirk explaines that article, and declares, it is vnderstood both of the Particular Presbytrie 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 ftand 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 visite 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.

Seffio 7.

[Anent the apoftacie and defection of Mr Ninian Dalyell, Mafter of the Grammar School of Dumfries, from the true religion of Jefus Chrift professed be him before, and corrupting the youth of his school with papistrie, confeffed in presence of this Affemblie:] The Affemblie, [after good deliberation, and] weyand the apoftafie of Mr Niniane Dalyell Master of the Grammar School of Dumfries, depofit him fimpliciter from the functioun of the Ministrie in tyme comeing, and suspends him from teaching the schoole and gouth, 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