The Booke of the Universall Kirk of Scotland / Wherein the Headis and Conclusionis Devysit Be the Ministers and Commissionaris of the Particular Kirks Thereof, Are Specially Expressed and Contained.

by Unknown

Sessio 2^a.

Mrs John Row, David Lyndsay, Patrick Adamsone, qwha war direct fra the Assembly to suit my Lord Regent’s Grace’s presence at this conventione, or qwhilks authorized be his Commissione, Reportit, That the charge of the Kirk came so suddenly that he could not be present, nor address his Commissioners thereto; alwayes, if the Kirk thinks meit, he shall appoint certaine of the Councill to conveine with the Commissioners, qwhilks the Kirks shall appoynt at sic tymes as the Kirk shall thinke guide, to confer upon sic things as may further God’s glory.

It is thought guide be the Kirk, that sic persones as are alreadie pennit anent the policie of the Kirk as were ordayned the last Assemblie, sould revisit all uthers things qwhilk shall be presently gine in, sichtit and put in guide forme; and to that effect the Kirk requests my Lord Chancellour, the Laird of Lundie, Mrs Andrew Hay, Andrew Melvill, James Lawsone, John Durie, Robert Pont, James Wilkie, rector of the Universitie of St Androis, John Row, George Hay, Clement Little, to conveene at afternoone, and daily dureing the Assemblie, to conferr the things already pennit, with uthers whilk will be gine in and advysit thereupon, collectit together in good forme, and present the same to the Assemblie, before the dissolving thereof.

Because of the multitude of the books of Commissioners qwhilks are to be examinit in the Generall Assemblies, and large tyme spendit therein, besydes sic as are deput thairto knawis not the proceedings of the said Commissioners, sa weil as their Synodall Assemblies: Therefore, it is decreitit and statute be the Kirk present, that the Books of the Visitors or Commissioners be tryit and scene in their Synodall Assemblies, and subscribed be the clerks thereof, and the maist pairt of the said Assemblie, and reportit againe to ilk Generall Assemblie be the Commissioners, that the Kirk may consider their diligence in their affaires.

The Assemblie present hes ordaynit, that all ministers and readers within eight mylles, or wtherwayes at the discretione of the visitor, shall resort to the place of the exercise ilk day of exercise, and namely the ministers that should prophecie, and that should adde: Qwhairin if aither of these twa failzie, that for the first fault, in presence of the brethren of the exercise, upon their knees, they confesse their offence; for the second, that they make the lyke submissioune before the Synodall Assemblie; if they incurre the third, that they be summoned before the Generall Assembly, and receive discipline for their offence: and if they fall in the fourth fault, that they be depryvit of their offices and functions of the ministrie.

The Kirk giues commission to the Laird of Dun to summond Mr James Fotheringhame before him, and to take tryall of the haynous sclander of adulterie betwixt him and Margaret Lyndsay, and of ane pretendit marriage alleadgit solemnizat and compleit betwixt them, and to report his proceedings hereintill to the next Generall Assemblie; with power also to him, to chairge the said Mr James and Margaret Lyndsay, to separate themselfis from uthers, qwhill tryall be takin of the said sclander, under the paine of excommunicatione; and giue they disobey, to excommunicate them: and, in the meantyme, in respect of the contempt of the Kirk, in not making his purgatione of the said sclander before the said Superintendant, being thereto summoned, the Assembly present suspends him from all sunshine and office within the Kirk.

Sessio 3.

Anent the propositione of certaine brethren of the Assemblie, declareand that the Regent’s Grace hes presentit Mr Patrick Adamsone to the Bishopric of St Androis; and that be ordinance of the Assembly, Bischops sould be tryit before them, or they be admittit to the chaptor, Requyrand baith the counsell and advyse of the Kirk herein: The said Mr Patrick answerit, that my Lord Regent’s Grace had discharged him to proceed farther in this matter, in respect the said act and ordinance of the Kirk is not accordit on; and therefore he wald not medle further and make instance therein; qwhilk answer the Kirk thocht sould be gine to my Lord Regent’s Grace be the chapter.

Sessio 4.

Mr Patrick Adamsone, John Row, and David Lyndsay, desyrit provisione to be made for the visitors of countries, according to the division and order takin in the Assembly, &c.