“7. That they be very Cautions of receiving Informations, against the late Conformists, and that they proceed in the matter of Censure, very Deliberatly, so as none may have just cause to complain of their Rigiditie: Yet so as to omit no means of Information. And that they shall not proceed to censure, but upon Relevant Libels and sufficient Probation.”
“8. That this Commission do not take on them, to meddle with any thing, not expressed in their Commission: [pg 534] And that it be declared, that this Commission is only given, Ad hunc effectum & pro præsenti Ecclesiæ statu.”
“9. That this commission be in all their actings, Countable to, and Censurable by the next Ensuing General Assembly.”
“10. That this commission continue till the first of November next: and in case the General Assembly Interveen; Then this Commission is to Terminate at the meetting of the said Assembly.”
The General Assembly approves these Instructions, for the said Commission for Visitations on the South-side of Tay: And ordains the same also to serve for the Visitors that are to be appointed for the North.
XVI. Commission for Visitations on the South side of Tay.
The General Assembly Considering, that there are many Important and weighty Affairs, Processes, Appeals, and References, Tabled before this Assembly, which the Assembly could not overtake, for want of time to consider them naturely; Does therefore Nominate and Authorize a Commission of Ministers and Elders, for Visitation of the whole Presbyteries, on the South-side of Tay, viz. Mr. Hugh Kennedy, Mr. John Vetch, Mr. John Law, Mr. Gabriel Semple, Mr. Gilbert Rule, Mr. James Kirtoun, Mr. William Areskyne, [pg 535] Mr. William Weir, Mr. William Crichtoun, Mr. John Anderson of Perth, Mr. Alexander Pitcairn, Mr. Richard Howison, Mr. George Campbel, Mr. John Lawrie, Mr. Archibald Hamiltoun, Mr. Patrick Peacock, Mr. John Spalding, Mr. Michael Bruce, Mr. Gabriel Cuningham, Mr. Patrick Warner, Mr. Alexander Forbes, Mr. John Hutcheson, Mr. William Eccles, Mr. James Vetch, Mr. Patrick Simpson, Mr. Matthew Crawford, Mr. William Legat, Mr. Neil Gillies, Mr. Thomas Forrester, Mr. Andrew Mortoun, Mr. Robert Duncanson, Mr. John Bannatyne, Mr. William Ker, Mr. William Vilant, Mr. Robert Rule, Mr. James Frazer, Mr. George Meldrum at Kilnining, Mr. David Blair, Mr. Samuel Nairn, Mr. Edward Jamieson, Mr. James Rymer Ministers: and the Earl of Crawford, the Earl of Sutherland, the Viscount of Arburthnet, the Lord Halcraig, the Lord Aberuchil, the Laird of Cimistoun, Sir John Hall Provest of Edinburgh, Sir John Riddel, the Laird of Greenknows, Archibald Muir late Baylie of Edinburgh, James Mclurgh Dean of Gild, George Stirling Deacon Conveener, the Laird of Naughtoun, the Laird of Meggans, the Laird of Leuquhat, Sir Thomas Stewart, the Laird of Glanderstoun, the Laird of Lamingtoun, Provest Muir of Air, and the Laird of Grange Hamiltoun Ruling Elders: To meet for their first Diet at Edinburgh the fourteenth day of November Instant, Fifteen of them being a Quorum, whereof Ten are to be alwayes Ministers: And of their Sub-Committee in the Interval of their Quarterly Meetings, Nine to be a Quorum, Six of these being always Ministers, who only are to Rippen and prepare Matters for the Quarterly Meetings. And their next [pg 536] Quarterly Meeting to be at Edinburgh the Third Wednesday of January thereafter. And their next Quarterly Meeting to be on the Third Wednesday of April. And if afterwards the said Commission shall think fit, to appoint other Quarterly Meetings, they may do as they see Expedient With full Power to them and their Sub-Commission foresaid, to give Warrand for Citing Parties upon Fifteen free dayes. And the said Commission, being only appointed, Ad hunc effectum & pro prasentes Ecclesia Statu, Therefore, The Assembly Recommends particularly to the said Commission, to take Cognizance of, and finally determine in the particulars following, specially Committed and Referred to them, by this Assembly, viz. The Purging and Planting of the City and Presbytery of Edinburgh: The transportation of Mr. Robert Wyse to Hamiltoun: The Proces of the Heretors and People of Peebles: The Processes, of Mr. Thomas Wood at Dumbar, of Mr. Robert Spotswood at Abbotsrule, Mr. John Bowes at Abbotshail, Mr. Patrick Lyon at Kinghorm, Mr. Symon Compar at Dumfermling, Mr. William Crawford at Lady-Kirk, Mr. James Orr at Huttoun, Mr. Adam Peacock at Morbassie, Mr. Daniel Urquhart at Clackmannan, Mr. George Monro at Dollar, Mr. George Shaw at Logie, Mr. Alexander Ireland at Fossoway and Tilliboal, Mr. Robert Sharp at Muckart, Mr. James Grahame at Dumfermling, Mr. George Gray at Beath, Mr. John Monro at Stirling, and Mr. John Skinner at Bathkenner: The Petition of the Magistrates of Perth, and Reference anent Mr. John Anderson there: The Processes of Mr. William Alison at Kilboche, and Mr. James Cowper at Humbie: Some Reference of the [pg 537] Synod of Merse and Teviotdial to the Assembly, viz. One anent Doctor Canaries, and another anent Mr. Kirktoun and Mr. Jameson's returning to their Charges, or else to Dimit; And a third anent Mr. William Crawfurd Deposed, to procure him some Lively hood, because of his Age and Infirmity, and some others given in to the Clerk therewith from the said Synod: The Affair anent Mr. Duncan Campbel and the Parishes of Dinnoon and Kilmorn: The Process of Mr. Robert Glasford at Auchterderen: The Reference from the Presbyterie of Stirling, for advice anent Mr. Patrick Cowpar: The Petitions of Mr. William Hamiltoun and Mr. Hugh Nisbet: The Petition of Mr. Alexander Strang, anent his Clerks Fies. This Commission is also to Correspond with the State, anent Fasts and Thanksgivings, and their Causes, if the Occasions thereof fall out during the time of their sitting: Also to take the Monitory paper to consideration, and see what use is to be made of it: To consider what Acts of Assembly are fit to be Printed together, and order the same. To consider the form of process, being first Revised by the Lord Aberuchil and the Lord Halcraig. And to apply to the Privy Council for their Civil Sanction to the observation of the Fast. And this Commission is to walk in all things, according to the particular Instructions given unto them by this Assembly. And in all their Actings they shall be countable to and Censurable by the next General Assembly. And this Commission to Continue till the first of November next, or the diet, that shall be appointed for the next General Assembly.