Sessio.
Exhortation made be Mr John Row. Leets, Mr Andrew Hay, Thomas Smetone, David Fargysone: The said David was chosen Moderator be pluralitie of votes. Mrs James Lawsone, Andrew Melvill, John Row, Andrew Hay, Thomas Smetone, John Craige, Robert Pont, Assessors.
The Noblemen in the Towne for the present were desyrit to be present in the Assembly.
Sessio 2.
In respect that at the desyre of the Assemblie, certain of the nobilitie were convenit, viz., my Lord Chancellour, the Earle Montrose, my Lord Setone, my Lord Lindsay, it was exponit and schawne be the Moderator of this Assemblie in name of the Kirk, qwhat care and studie the Kirk of God had taine to intertaine and keep the puritie of the sincere word of God unmixt with the inventions of their awne heids, qwhilk their speciall care was to reserve to the posteritie heirafter; and, seeing that the trew religione is not able to continew nor indure lang, without a good discipline and policie, in that part have they also imployit their witt and study, and drawne furth of the pure fountaines of God’s word sic a discipline as is meet to remayne within the Kirk, whilk they presentit to the King’s Majestie with their supplicatione, at whais discretion certain Commissioners were appoyntit to reasone with sic as were deput be the Kirk, where the haill matter beand disput was resolvit, and agriet, to a few heids, and thereafter againe presentit to the Lords of the Articles, that the said discipline may take place and be establischit be the actes and lawes of the realme, qwhairin, nottheless, their travells hes not succeeded; prayand, therefore, the nobilitie present, alswell openly to make profession to the Kirk if they will allow, affirme, and maintaine the religion presently establischit in this realme, as also the Policie and Discipline already spoken of, and labour at the King and Councill’s hands for ane answer to the heads after following, to witt; That his Grace and Councill will establish such heids of the policie as was alreadie resolvit and agreit upon be the saids Commissioners, and cause sic uthers as was not fully agreit to be reasoned and put to ane end, and that his Grace and Councill will restore the Kirk to the act of parliament concerning the thirds, and that nane vote in parliament in name of the Kirk, except sic as shall have commissione of the Kirk to that effect, and that presentationes of benefices be direct to the Commissioners of Countries where benefices lyis: And to the effect that the matter may be the better and sooner exped, that their Lordships wald appoynt sic tyme convenient thereto as they may best spare, that sic of the brether that beis namit thereto may await upon their honors. Theirunto the said Noblemen answerit, that a pairt of them had made publick professione of this religion before, and alwayes now they declare they confesse the religion presently profest within this realme, and shall maintaine the same to their power. As to the rest, they think good the King and his Councill be suitit, and they shall insist with the Kirk for answer thereto;—the tyme to that effect, to the Kirk, the morne.
Sessio 5.
Anent the Act made in the last Assembly concerning the Suspension of Visitors fra giving collatione of benefices to any persone by the ministers serving actuallie at the Kirks where the saids benefices lyes; The Kirk ordayns the said Act to stand in full effect and strength whill the next Assemblie, where the matter being newly proponed may be farther resolvit.
Anent the Submissione of Mr James Boyd, Commissioner of Kyll and Carrick, to the Generall Assemblie, conforme to the Act made in the last Assembly, and the reasoning had be him be the Moderator and brethrene appoyntit thereto, the forsaid brether being present thoucht best he sould publish his awne answer to the haill brether for satisfactione of them, who gave in his answer in wreit as follows:
I understand, the name, office, and modest reverence borne to a Bischope to be lawfull and allowable be the Scriptures of God; and, beand electit be the Kirk and King to be Bischop of Glasgow, I esteem my calling and office to be lawfull: And, as anent my executione of that charge committit to me, I am content to indeavour at my outermost abilitie to performe the same and every poynt thereof, and to abyde the honourable judgements of the Kirk from tyme to tyme, of my offending by my dewtie; craving alwayes a brotherly desyre at their hands, seeing the charge is weichtie; and in the laying to be lait to my charge to be examined be the cannone left be the apostle to Timothie, 1 and 1 cap., seeing that place was appointit to me at my receipt.