4. Because ane Minifter is not fufficient to awaite at all tymes vpon his Grace and his Hienes houfe, to preach, exhort, admonisch, and preferve 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 present,] that they may both be mutuall consent 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 stay the executioun of the acts of the Generall Affemblie; as also fummounds Ministers 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.

[Questions 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 vseing 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 pro

vinces.

Refponfio: So many Reidars as the Commiffionars and Synodall Afsemblies finds vnmeit to folemnize marriage, to be inhibite be them.

[Q. Secondly, Craveth of the Generall Affemblie an universal order to be established concerning Minifters, as the Synodall Affemblie of Lothian hath concluded already, That every Minifter fhall await every Sabbath day at that kirk, where he is bound to make refidence; and the fupporting of other Kirks to be only on work days: and the Commiffioners of every province in their vifitation, to accuse the Minifters controveeners of the famen.

Answer:

Alloweth this order for Lothian. C.]

[Q. Thirdly,] In refpect that fundrie brether befyd thair miniftrie, hes particular benefices, quherby the Kirks quher thair benefices lyis are diffapoyntit of fervice, That ane vniforme ordour may be tane, that men may serve either at the kirk quher thair benefices lyes, or provifion be made for the fame.

[Q. Fourthly, A general order to be taken, for erecting of Prefbyteries in places quher publick Exercise is vfed, vnto the tyme the Policie of the Kirk be established be law. C. & B.]

Anfuer: The Exercife may be judgit a Presbyterie.

[Queftions proponed be the Synodall Affemblie of Sanct Andrews

to the Generall Affemblie; and the answers of the Affemblie thereto. C.]

[Q. In the first, The brethren of the faid Affemblie require,] If any aught or may be fuffered to reid within the Kirk in tyme of neceflitie, without admiffion, althogh they be elders or deacons.

Refponfio Negatur fimpliciter.

[Q. Item,] If all the Kirks have not the fame equall power to marrie on ane oulk day, by the Sabboth, haveand ane fufficient number, [and]

joynand preaching therto, as certain particular Kirks already practises the fame.

Refponfio: It is aggreeit that they may marrie on feriall dayes.

[Q. Item,] What ordour falbe put to them that bydes from the Communioun, alledging invy that they beare towards thair neighbours, the cause therof; and vthers that will neither fpeake, falute, nor beare familiar companie with thair neighbours, beand requyrit be their Minifters, and will not obey, Aught they to be admittit.

Refponfio Ordaines the perfons lyand vnder invy to be admonischit; and the vthers not to be fufferit without reconciliatioun and teftificatioun of brotherly love.

[Q. Laft,] What aught to be done to fick perfons that, after admonition, will paffe to May playis; and speciallie elders and deacons, and vthers quha beares office in the Kirk.

Refponfio: They aught not to be admittit to the facrament without fatisfaction; in speciall elders and deacons.

QUESTIONS.

[A certain married man flandereth himself of adultery with another mans wife: the woman denyeth the fact, but granteth that he intised her fundry tymes thereto. Item, the woman flandereth the man, that he perfwaded her to put doun her own husband, to goe out of the countrey with him, promifing, as the alledged, to doe the like with his wife: The man grants that he intised her to go with him out of the countrey; but denieth that he perfwaded her to doe any evil to her husband of which shamefull alledgances no small troubles are raised; and the Kirk heavily flandered.

Anfwer: Referres this question to be farther tryed in all circumstances, be the Commiffioner of the Country, the Minifter of the parish, and other Ministers next adjacent, such as the Commiffioner fhall convocat, at what time and place it shall seem best to them; and that both parties in the interim be debarred a facra cœna. C.]

[Q. Becaus there are fome Ministers that will not folemnize marriage,

but only upon Sunday; and other fome use the famen upon oulk dayes, whereof arifeth no fmall flander among the people: we crave an univerfal order to be keeped, either to appoint the Sunday precisely, or that all days be alyke after due proclamation. C. & B.]

Anfuer Bands beand thrie feverall Sondayis laufullie proclaimit, the marriage may be any day of the oulk folemnizat, fwa that a fufficient number of witnes be present.

Q. What ordour falbe tane with these perfons that paffes to a popish priest to be married, thair bands not beand proclaimed: Sall they be efteimed as married [perfons;] and if not, quhat discipline falbe vfit against them.

Anfuer: This coniunctioun is no marriage, and therfor ordaines the perfons to be callit befor thair particular Affemblies and fatiffie as fornicatours; and vpon new proclamatioun to be married according to the ordour of the reformit Kirk; and the papift priest to be punifchit.

[The Affemblie] ordaines the Commiffioners of Countreyes and thair affeffours to try within thair bounds, fick of the Ministrie as hes pluralitie of benefices and offices, and to inquyre the reafons therof; to be reportit be them to the nixt Generall Affemblie, with thair names that bruiks the faids benefices and offices, that the Kirk may take ordour for remeeding therof.

Anent the act made anent the apparrell of the Ministers and thair wyves: Ordaines the fame to be put to executioun in all points, according to the tenour therof.

[To the right excellent, right high and mighty Prince James the fixth King of Scots, your humble fubjects, the Commiffioners of the Kirks of your realme, wish grace and peace, with a profperous reigne, from God the Father, through our Saviour Jefus Chrift.

Our duty craveth at all occafions to hold your Hienefs in remembrance of things pertaining to the advancement of Gods glory, and weale of his Kirk, wherewith is joyned the preservation of your eftate, and whole body of this common wealth; for above the common fort of Princes, who, for the most part, are either enemies of the true religion, or elfe think that

your

the medling therewith troubleth their eftate, and are greatly moved, with the wicked Herod, when they hear the wife men feeking for Chrift to adore him as a King, Ye are of Gods loving mercy called to this honour and dignity, to be a maintainer of Gods eternal truth, and mutually to be maintained be the fame in lyke fort, that in all troubles and commotions, that any tyme thir twelve years past have disquieted your common weale, two things have ever been annexed together, and made, as it were, one quarrell and one caufe, to wit, the maintainance of Chrifts Evangel, and defence of your royal estate; fo that for the most part, they that have been enemies to the right religion, have been enemies lykwife to your authority and crown; and be the contrary, the most fervent favourers of Gods truth have ever been found most faithfull fubjects unto your Majestie, and maintainers of welfare and estate and in this respect no doubt hath the Eternal, at many tymes, when matters appeared almoft defperat in mens eyes, granted marvelous fuccefs, and notable victories to thefe who fuftained your quarrell against the greater forces, crafty and bold interprises of the adverfaries of the fame; who although many of them outwardly profeffed the same religion, yet if their attempts had come to effect, they should have been the moyen to suppress the fame, and to erect fuperftition and idolatrie again in place thereof, which our God would not fuffer, but rather fought be his own power against them, as well for prefervation of his truth revealed of his great mercy among us, as of your Hieness perfon and eftate, to be advancer thereof in tyme to come; which indeed, Sír, is no fmall honour unto you, to have Gods caufe and yours fo linked together, and is an evident token and teftimony, that so long is your princely estate able to fland in all flability, how long the purity of religion and liberty of Chrifts Kirk shall be carefully keeped and maintained be you. Then if oft tymes Princes have done many things for their friends and confederats, and namely fuch as have been with them in lyke danger and hazard of tyning and woning, how meekle more fhall it become your Hienefs to refufe no travells for the cause of Chrifts Kirk and true religion, prefently fo mixed with your own eftate, that both have the self fame friends and unfriends, and are both appearand to abide together the like danger, to fall or to ftand: Herefor we were meekle to be blamed, and worthy to be accufed of neglecting our duty, if wee fhould not from tyme to tyme, as opportunity beis offered, ftirr up and labour to promove your good mind in fo worthy and neceffarie a caufe; which is farther and farther to advance the liberty