Mr Alexʳ Kerse said—I heard, of late, a notable sermon by a brother in Edinburgh, wherein he sent him to the land of Nod: and let him be sent there and arreasted there, with deposition and excommunication. And the whole Assembly, in ane voyce, except Keir, voited the same.
Then the complaint agᵗ Mr James Forsyth, minister of Kilpatrick, was given in; and, efter the reading of the proces, and probation thereof,
The Moderatour said—I think there is two great faults in that proces; that, upon the Saturday before the Communion, (at night,) the Sunday morning, he was writting of summonds to send athart his paroche; and, upon the Sabbath day efter the first sermone, when the tables were going to serve, he brought ane Officer at Armes to the end of the communion table, in Presence of 1600 communicants, and caused him reid Letters of Horning. And lykewayes he hes both declyned the Presbitrie and the Assemblie. He is alreadie suspendit; and, therefore, ye are to give your judgement whither he merits deposition or not?
Then the rolles were called, and the whole Assemblie voited to his deposition.
Moderatour said—We hope God shall give him repentance, that he may make use of his gifts afterward; but, for the present, I, in name of the Assemblie, discharge him from all function in the ministerie, and declaires his place to be vacant.
Sess. 18.—Decʳ ij, 1638.
After in calling upon the name of God,
The Modʳ nominat some for clearing of the proces against the Bishop of Cathnes: Alexʳ Monro, Mr Wᵐ Gray, Mr George Gray, Mr [George] Leslie, Mr John Murray of Pennyland, to conveine at my Lord Eglintouns lodging.
[Bishop of Orkney.]
The Moderatour said—There are heir two writes come in my hand concerning the Bishop of Orkney. The ane may be proven by witnes in this house, and the uther is more large, punctuallie deduced and subscryved be 12 ministers of Orkney. If the generall satisfie you not, ye shall heare the particular.