Thir thrie heids standing in contraversie, and disput in utramque partem, yet farther disputation was reservit till the morne, to any man that likit to take the pairt of reasoning upon him against the saids heids.
The Commissioners appoyntit to await upon my Lord Regent’s Grace’s answer, report, because they had no commission in wreit, his Grace gave no answer to them.
The Clark Register beand present, declareit that the Proveist and Baillies of Dumfermling agriet to burie the said Laird of Rossythe in the Kirk; that he was not the causer thereof, submittand himselfe allwayes to the judgement of the Kirk, if any offence be found done by him.
The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk of this Realme, considering the grit abundance of iniquitie overflowing universallie the haill face of this commoneweill, now in so great licht and revelation of the trew and Christiane religione, justly provocking and steiring up the justice and equitie of God to take judgement and vengeance on this unworthie nation; Seeing also the many and perilous strifes and raiges of persecutione daily invading the Kirk and Spouse of Jesus Christ, the sound and extreame troubles of the trew and zealous members thereof in the parts of France and elsewhere, professing with them ane Saviour, Lord, and Messias, the wark also of establishing a perfyte order and policie in the Kirk being presently in hands, hes thocht it good, for the same reasones and good causes, that earnest and speedy recourse shall be had to God, with commone supplicationes and prayers; And to that effect ane generall fast be observed universallie, throughout all the kirks of the realme, with doctrine and instruction to the people, to begine the secund Sonday of July nixt to come, qwhilk is the ninth day thereof, and to continue to the nixt Sonday thereafter, wsing, in the meanetyme, exercise of doctrine according to the accustomit order; and to that effect, that intimation be made by the Commissioners of Countries to the ministers within their bounds, as appertaines. Gine in the Generall Assembly.
Because the matter of the policie of the Kirk collectit be the brethren, is not yet in sic perfect forme as is requisite, and syndrie things largely intreatit, qwhilk will be mair summarly handlit; uthers requireing further dilatioune for the re-collecting thereof, and putting the same in good order and forme, and for avoiding superfluitie and obscuritie, the substantialls beand keepit; The Kirk presently hes willit their belovit brethren, Mr Robert Pont and James Lawsone, to take travells and laboures in the premisses; and to the effect the wark may the better be compleitit and in readiness against the next Generall Assemblie, qwhilk is ordaynit to begin at Edinburgh the 25th of October nixt to come, the Kirk hes ordaynit their brethren, the Laird of Dunn, Mrs Alexander Arbuthnot, Andrew Melvell, John Craig, Andrew Hay, George Hay, John Row, David Lyndsay, John Duncansone, to conveine and assemble together, the nyneteine day of October nixt in Edinburgh, to revise and consider the travells of the said brether, that the samine may be the mair advysedly proponit publickly, as said is: In this meane tyme, sic as pleases to reason in the matter to have access to the saids brether; and lykewayes ordainit the Visitors of Countries to make intimatione to the Barrones, that the said wark is in hand, and to be treattit in the nixt Generall Assembly; desyrand their presence and concurrance thereto.
[THIRTY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly of the Kirk, conveint att Edinburgh, in the Laigh Tolbooth thereof, the 25th of October 1577, where there was present the Commissioners of Countries, Provinces, Townes, and Universities, with the Ministers: Mr David Lyndsay, Moderator.
Sessio.
Because of great confusione heirtofore in Assemblies qwhilk fell out be casting in of purposes unfoirseene afoire, and be the multitude of proponers thereof; It was thocht meet, dureing this Assembly, that certaine brethren sould conferr with the Moderator upon matters to be intreatit on at this conventione, viz. Mrs John Row, Alexander Arbuthnot, Andrew Melvill, William Christison, James Lawsone, Robert Pont, Andrew Hay, John Duncansone; and sic lyke it is thocht good that the acts made in the Assemblie be considerit be the saids brethren, joynit to the Moderator, and thereafter read in open Assemblie.