Doctor Guild said—There is a motion made, as ye all hard the other day, concerning salmond fisching, and proffanation of the Sabbath thereby, and it was not thought expedient to make new Acts, but to search for old ones, and to revive them. In Gods providence, there is heir found ane Act, in the year 1562, of the Assembly holden at Holyrud-house, 12 Nov. 5 Session, where salmond fisching is expresslie inhibite and ordained to be punished by the censures of the Kirk; and I requyre that the Clerk may read it; which accordinglie was done, and the whole Assembly, in ane voit, renewed the same.
The names of the Commissioners for the Parliament being red, and the Articles which they behoove to present to it, they were desyrit to represent them to the Clerk of Register some dayes before the Parliament.
Moderatour said—There will be some directions from the Assembly to Ministers what to doe first when they goe home. For this end, Presbitries must have ane extract of some Acts shortlie; and becaus there is a declaration of the Confession of Faith to be red, it wer good it wer intimat in all pulpits, as lykewayes thir things that are concludit in Assemblie concerning Episcopacie, the 5 Articles of Perth, the Service Booke, Booke of Cannons, Booke of Ordination, High Commission, and the Sentence against the Prelats, to intimat, that people may ken who are excommunicat, and who not.
Then there was red two Acts, which wer put in forme: the ane commanding the Covenant to be subscryvit be all Masters of Universities, Colledges, and Schools, and all uthers who have not alreadie subscryvit the same, with these words prefixed before their subscription; ane uther Act, discharging all subscription to the Covenant lately urged by his Majesties Commissioner.
After the calling the rolles, the whole Assemblie most unanimouslie allowed both these Acts.
Moderatour said—There is a motion made concerning thanksgiving to be keeped when ye goe home to your particular congregations; and truelie, considering our evil deservings, and what the Lord hes done to us for meir favour, we have no lesse nor great reason to acknowledge it, both publicity in our congregations, and privatelie in our families, and to delyte in the honour of God, and make frequent commemoration of it at the first convenient occasion after ye returne to your Presbitries and paroches; and I trust it shall be acceptable unto God, and give no just occasion of offence.
The Assemblie allowes this Article, and ordaines Ministers to make intimation in their pulpits of the conclusion of this Assemblie, the first Sabbath efter their returne home, and desyre their people to prepaire themselfes against the next Sabbath thereafter, not for carnall festivitie, but for a humble thanksgiving.
The Assemblie ordaines the Presbitries to proceid against those who subscryvit the declinatour, and all uthers who will not acknowledge the Assembly, with the censures of the Kirk; and becaus there are some of this sort about Aberdein that their voits will be moe in Presbitries, the Assembly ordaines them to be called before the Commission at Aberdein.
Lykewayes the Assembly ordaines the Moderatour and Clerk to give out summonds upon relevant complaints of parties before the next Generall Assembly, becaus the tyme could not be weill condiscendit upon. The rolles were called, and most parte of the Assembly voited that the third Wednesday of Jullii, the next Generall Assemblie should sitt at Edinburgh; and if the Kings Majestie be pleased to indict a Generall Assemblie, either before or efter this tyme, the Assemblie declaires that it was good reason his Majesties tyme wer waited on.
Then the Commissioners of Sᵗ Androwes presented their supplication for the tranportation of Mr Robert Blair from Air to Sᵗ Androwes; and, efter many contestations betwixt the Commissioners of Sᵗ Androwes, my Lord Lindsey, Provest of Air, and uthers, the mater was put to voiting, and there was no great difference amongst the voites, except only 4 or 5 moe that voited for Sᵗ Androwes nor for Air: quharefore,