Be it knowen to all men, I, Alexʳ Leslie, Minister at Sᵗ Androwes: Forasmuch as I, by my missive letteris sent by me to the Generall Assembly of the Church of Scotland, holden at Glasgow, the 21 of Novʳ 1638, last bypast, doe frielie submitt myselfe, dimitt, and lay doune at the feete of the said Assemblie, my pretendit office of Episcopacie as pretendit Bishop of Dunkell, and by my Letters promised to subscryve what ample forme of dimission thereanent these Assemblies should prescryve: and now the said reverend Assembly hath found and declaired the said office of Episcopacie, as it hath beene termed and used within the said Church of Scotland, to be abjured by the Confession of Faith of the said Kirk, subscrived in the yeares of God 1580, 1581, and 1590; and, therefore, decerne the said office to be removed out of the said Kirk of Scotland. As also, seeing the said reverend Assembly hath decerned me, according to my said Letter, to subscryve a more ample form of dimission of my said pretendit office, in the presence of Sir John Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Baronet—Mr Robert Murray, Minister of Meffen—Mr John Robertsone, Minister at Perth—Mr Alexʳ Petrie, Minister at Rynd—and Thomas Durhame, Burgess at Perth—Commissioners appoynted by them for that effect: therefore, for performance of my said Letter, and in obedience to the ordinance of the said reverend Assemblie, Witt ye me to have demitted, quytclaimed, and simpliciter overgiven, lykeas I now, in the presence of the said Commissioners, frielie demitt, quytclaime, and simpliciter overgive the foresaid pretendit office of Episcopacie as pretendit Bishop of Dunkell, with the whole title, style, name, and dignitie thereof, power of ordination and jurisdiction, voiceing in Parliament, and all usurpation of the same in tyme coming, and faithfullie promitts, and by these presents binds and oblisse me, never to exerce nor use the said pretendit office in the said Church of Scotland, nor no power of ordination, jurisdiction, voiceing in Parliament, neither any other power ecclesiasticall belonged, usurped, and acclaimed to belong to the said pretendit office; lykeas, according to the Act of the said reverend Assemblie, I acknowledge the said office of Episcopacie to be abjured in the Confession of Faith foresaid: And, therefore, most justlie ought to be removed out of the said Church of Scotland, and the whole premises I heartilie acknowledge, as I shall answer to God at the great day. In testimony whereof, I have subscribed these presents with my hand; likeas, for further securitie, I am content that these presents be insert and registrat in the Generall Bookes of the Assemblie, therein to remaine ad futuram rei memoriam. And to that effect Constituts __________________ my lawfull procurators, conjunctlie and severallie, promitten de rato, &c. In witnesse whereof, (written be Robert Reidheugh, servant to Patrick Rosse, nottar in Perthe,) I have subscrivit the same with my hand, as said is, at Sᵗ Androwes the 24 of Januar, 1639 yeares, before these witnesses Mr Joⁿ Patersone, and Mr Alexʳ Dundie, Student in Perthe, and George Boiswell, Servitour to the said Sir John Moncreiffe.
A Supplication of the Toune of Edinburgh for transportation of Mr Samuel Rutherfurd, Minister at Anwith, and Mr Robert Douglas, Minister at Kirkcaldie, to Edinburgh, presented in face of the Assemblie; and to eschue all contestations and altercations likelie to arise, (by reason of the violent opposition of the forsaid Ministers, and no lesse violent persute of the foresaid supplicants,) if the same should presentlie have bein taken to the Assemblies consideration, therefore did appoynt a Committie for hearing of the reasons of them both, and prepairing the same for the Assemblie, viz., Ministers: Mr James Bonar, &c.
The Supplication of the Toune of Air for Mr John Fergushill being againe given in to the Assemblie, the Committie was desired to reporte their diligence thereanent. Their answer was, they had heard the parochiners of Uchiltrie, and though they had a great love to their pastor, yet if the Assembly fand that it might conduce much to the good of the publict that he should be transported to Air, they would submitt.
The Commissioner urged that their transportation of Ministers that way might not be prejudiciall to the Patrons right.
Mr James Bonar answered—The stipend of Air was not a benefice but a modified stipend.
My Lord Argyle said—The Assembly may give way to his transportation, and decerne him to be capable thereof.
The Commissioners Grace desired that if the voices of the Assembly were for him to goe to Air, it might be conceaved that they fand the said Mr John capable of transportation, and gife the Patron give his consent, decernes him to be Minister of Air.
Mr Robert Eliots supplication for libertie of transportation, referred back to his Presbitrie.
To meit to morrow at 9 a clocke.