His Grace answerit concerning the visitors, that he would be advysit with the rowes and the Collector, &c.
Alexander Hay, clarke to the Secret Councill, presented to the Assembly certaine questiones, qwhairof he craveit decesioune for the better expeditioune of the platt; declaring it to be my Lord Regent’s Grace will, at the least so many as may now have resolutione.
It is thocht meit that the haill readers within this realme sall be examinit and try it de novo in their Synodall Assemblies; and if, after examinatione, they be fund to want the qualities prescryvit in the Booke of Discipline, to be deposit, and removit from their offices: And sicklyke, that no reader within this realme minister the holy sacrament of the Lord, except such as hes the word of exhortatione.
Sessio 6.
It is thocht meit that in every parochine there be persones to make sepulchres, quha sall notifie the names of the persones deceased to the readers, that they may present the same to the commissioner to be reportit to the Generall Assemblie.
Forswameikle as the Kirk and Commissioners present, advysidly considering the greit prejudice and hurt done to the Kirk of God be benificed persones within the ministrie, that setts taks and feus of their benefices and ecclesiasticall livings, lands, rents, tynds, and fruits of the samen, defraudand not only their successors of that qwhilk justly sould pertayne to them, and quhairupone they ought to be sustainit; but also bringand upon the Kirk be their inordinat and corrupt dealing, infinite sclanders and inconvenients: Therefore, with uniformitie of votes and mynds, they have resolvit and concludit, that no beneficit persone within the ministrie, Bischops, or uthers, sall sett fewes or tacks of their benefices, or ecclesiasticall livings, lands, rents, teinds, and fruits of the samine, or any part thereof, to whatsumever persone or persones, without the advyce and consent of the Generall Assemblie of the Kirk; and sicklyke, that no minister subscryve nor give their consent to the said fewes or tacks, in any wayes, qwhill he sie the consent of the Assemblie.
For better resolutione of the questiones gine in be Alexander Hay, clerk of the Secret Councill, and expeditione of the matter of the policie, the Kirk present hes ordaynit Mr John Craig, William Chrystisone, George Hay, David Cunninghame, John Row, James Greige, James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, Robert Pont, David Fargusone, Robert Hammiltone, John Robertsone, John Erskine of Dunne, ane of the visitors of Angus and Mearnes, if he beis present, to conveine the next day after the dissolutione of this Assembly, and visite and consider the heids of the policie, advyse and consult diligently thereupon, and upon the saids questiones, and to report their judgements thereanent, conceivit formerly in wreit, to the next Assembly.
Anent the summonding of the Moderator, and Mr Andrew Hay, Commissioners of Clyddisdaill, to compear before my Lord Regent’s Grace and the Privie Councill, bringand with them the act of ordinance, made be the Assembly for excommunicatione of the Captaine of Crawfurd, with the act qwhairupon the same proceedit, that the verity might be knawne; The Kirk ordaynes their brethren to appear before my Lord Regent’s Grace and Councill, and give obedience, and to report what beis done in that matter.
Returnand to the Assembly fra his Grace and Councill, they declarit, that in respect they producit not the acts and ordinances forsaids, qwhilks they excused be schortness of the charge and occupation of the clark, His Grace and Councill lies suspendit the said sentence of excommunicatione qwhill the productione of the saids acts; Qwhairfore they protestit for the liberty of the Kirk.
The Assembly refuses to give libertie to the Bailzie of Dunfermling to play upon the Sonday afternoone, ane certaine play qwhilk is not made upon the canonicall parts of the Scripture, in respect of the act past in the contrair.