Records of the Kirk of Scotland / containing the Acts and Proceedings of the General Assemblies from 1638 downwards, as authenticated by the clerks of assembly.

by Church of Scotland. General Assembly

Lowdoun said—God, the Father of light, give light unto it, for it must be the rule of all our proceedings.

The names of the Committie for the Prelats called upon for their Complaints.

Mr Robert Murray said—That the Complaint against every particular Prelat behoved to be tryed, and therefore desyred the Moderatour to intimat to the Assembly, and, if any had information against any particular Diocesian Prelat, that they would give it in to the Committie.

Then the Committie for the Billes were called on.

Mr David Lindsay answered—We have discussed some particular Billes that came before us, and we conceave this; that where the caus is weightie and the proces red, we think it good that Summonds be directed both for the Pairties and witnesses. There be uthers against whom there is no formall proces, and it will be weill done to heare the judgement of the Assembly anent these.

Moderatour said—There be two sortes of processes: ane sort are these which are closed alreadie before the particular Judicatories; I meane the Presbitries from whence the Pairtie are complained upon, who have heard the witnesses and set downe their deposition; and nothing left to the Assembly but to pronounce their Sentence. These may come in pertinentlie before the Assemblie. But for uther proceses that are not concludit, and witnesses not heard, but to be heard, before the Assembly consider whether it be more expedient to send citations to the Pairtie and witnesses to compeir before the Assembly, or if they shall be remitted to their Presbitries, or the next adjacent Presbitrie, as having Commission from the Generall Assembly to put a finall conclusion to them, and report it to the next Generall Assembly.

The question was moved concerning Doctor Hamiltons proces, whether it should be heir, agitat or remitted to the Presbitrie, in respect that the Presbitrie had refused proces alreadie, and it was reported that he would goe shortlie out of the Countrie? And therefore it was concludit to be decydit by the Assembly.

The Moderatour said—Lett us come to the third Committee concerning the Service Bookes, Cannons, and High Commission.

Mr Androw Ramsay answered—It is a toylesome taske—a Papall Service Booke, anti-Christian constitutions, and a superstitious Booke of ordinations—and will take us eight dayes at the least.

Moderatour said—Ye would consider that ye are not to dispute against ane adversarie, but to make such abridgement of the errours therein contained, as may be seine to such a grave Assembly.