Anent the Bischops or Commissioners of Countries that absents themselves from Generall Assemblies at the tyme appointit; The Kirk hes ordainit the act made the 12 of Aug. 1575 to be execute against them, and namely against St Androis, Morray, and Aberdeen, all absent; and the said act to be understand of Bischops haveand office appoyntit of Visitation appoyntit to them be the Kirk, but sic also as hes not the said office.[19]
Anent Jesuits repairing in this countrie; the Assemblie present hes votit and concludit, that the Commissioners of Provinces take tryall and diligently inquire if any sic persones resorte within the bounds of their office; and if any be found, to charge them straitlie to give confession of their faith, revock their errors, subscribe the articles of religione presently established be the mercie of God within this realme; and if they refuse, to proceed with the sentence of excommunication against them, beside the civill punischment to be askit of the King’s heines, and that this act be execute against Mr John Hay.
Ordaynes ane supplication to be made to the King and his Counsell that good order may be taken with the Universities of St Androis, and the corruptiones reformit and taken away; and to that effect that his heines with his Councill wald direct some wyse, godlie, and learnit men to consider the estate thereof, and direct letters chargeing the Masters and Regents of the said Universitie to produce before sic as his heines and Councill sall nominat with the brethren efter specified in name of the Kirk, viz. Mrs Robert Pont, John Row, Andrew Hay, Andrew Melvill, Thomas Smetoune, and Thomas Buchanan, ministers; the fundationes of the colledges to be seine and considerit be them: To the qwhilk brether the Kirk for their pairt gives commissione to censure with the King’s Majestie’s Commissioners, to take order, and redress all such corruptiones and defaults as pertaynes to the Kirk, and in so far as they may do.
Sessio 10.
Mr Ninian Dalzell producit to the Assemblie his opinione concernyng the heads of religion qwhilks are in controversie subscryvit with his hand, agrieing in all poynts with the opinion and judgement of the Kirk; protestand before God for no favour or feid of flesche, he affirmed the doctrine contained therein, and is alwayes mynded to live and die in the same.
The Generall Assemblie gives full power and Commission to their honourable brether the Lairds of Lundie, Braid, Elphinstoune, Carnal, Bargany, Carltowne, Abbotshall, Soffurd, Coldenknowis, Patrick Kynnynmont, with the Commissioners appointit over the haill provinces within this realme, be the said Assemblie, Mrs Robert Pont, James Lawsone, John Craige, John Duncansone, ministers, Andrew Melvill, Alexr. Arbuthnot, with sic as shall have commissione to be direct from the burrowes, or to the maist pairt of the said number, to convene where it shall happen the parliament to be halden two dayes before the halding thereof, and with their advyce, conceive and forme sic heids and articles as they shall think meit to be proponit thereto, in name of the Kirk, ffor the weill and maintainance of God’s Glory and Policie of the Kirk of God to desyre; with all humilitie and reverence to crave the samen to be grantit; to conferr and reasone thereupon the saids heids and sic as shall be proponit there, sicklyke and as the said Assemblie might doe if they were present, firme and stable.
The Generall Assemblie gives full power and commission to their lovit brethren John Erskine of Dun, John Duncansone, Andrew Hay, John Craige, Thomas Smetone, ministers, and Andrew Melville, principall of the Colledge of Glasgow, to passe to the King’s Majestie and Councill to Striviling with convenient expeditione, and to present unto his heines and Councill sic heids, articles, and complaints as are gine and already delyvirit to them be the Kirk, with humble instance and reverence to crave and receave answer thereof, and therein to travell effectuouslie and with diligence, and namely to make sute for the reformation of the Universitie of St Androis, and that tymes may be appoyntit thereto: qwhairof the said Assembly willed their breither to make dew advertisement to sic as the said Assembly hes namit for their part, and what beis done to report againe to the next Assembly, firme and stable haldand and for to hald, whatsumever their said brether in the premisses righteouslie leids to be done.
Articles presentit to the King’s Majestie be the saids Commissioners.
1. The Kirk craves of the King’s Majestie wald make generall prohibitione that nane of the inhabitants of this realme send their children to Paris or any uther universitie or toune, professing papistrie, under sic paynes as his heines and his councill think expedient.