The Generall Assemblie of the Kirk gives full power and commissione to their honorable and welbelovit brethren, the Lairds of Lundie, Braid, Colluchie, Ryress, and Carltoune, Mrs James Lawsone, John Craige, John Duncansone, Thomas Smetoune, David Lyndsay, Robert Pont, Andrew Hay, Andrew Melvill, George Hay, Thomas Buchanan, John Brand, ministers of God’s word; John Johnstoune, Commissioner of Edinburgh, Richart Blyth, Commissioner of Dundie, George Elphinstoune, Commissioner of Glasgow, or any sax of them, to passe with all convenient diligence to the King’s Majestie and his noble Councill, and that with dew humilitie and reverence present to his Heines and Councill sic heids, articles, and supplicationes, as are conceivit in wreit, and delyverit unto them be the Kirk; most humbly supplicand and requyring his Majestie and Councill’s good answer thereto, and to travell effectuously and with earnest suite for granting of the same; as also, if need beis, to conferr and reasone upon every article and petitione proponit therein; and what here beis done, to report againe to the next Generall Assemblie.
Forsuameikle as throw a great part of this countrie, the afternoone exercise and doctrine upon Sabbath dayes is not usit, and speciallie to landwart, and therefore the people are not dewlie instructed in the Catechisme and Rudiments of Religione; The Kirk hes ordaynit that all pastors and ministers sall diligently and zealously travell with their flocks, to conveine to the afternoones sermones, alsewell they that are in landwart as they that are in burghs, as they will answer to God.
It is concludit be the Generall Assembly, that in every principall Assemblie, there shall be certaine assessors nominat to them, to concurr with the Commissioners of the Countrie, who shall subscryve with them in all weightie and greit matters.
Articles proponit be the forenamed Commissioners to his Majestie and Councill.
1. First, That order may be taken with sick as puts violent hand in ministers, or troubles them in exerciseing of their offices.
2. That they who for just cause are deposit from the ministrie may losse alsweill their benefices as other qualified persones provydit thereto, the Kirk may be servit.
3. That punishment may be made for sic as passes in pilgrimages to kirks or walls; and that order may be tane with them that past to the Holie Rude of Peblis, and sic uther places.
4. That no presentatione of benefice be directit to any persones but sic as beirs commissione from the Generall Assembly, according to the act of Parliament; and if any be utherwayes receavit, that their admission be declairit null.
5. That all benefices vaikand, where ministers are plantit, be gine to ministers serwing the cure where they vaike, they beand able therefore; and that no presentatione gine to any wther persone be receavit, unless the minister serving the rowmes be first found able.
6. That order be taken with Alexander Arbuthnott that the Bibles may be delyverit according to his receipt of money from every paroche; and to that effect that he and his soverties may be commandit be letters of hornying for delyverance thereof, and no suspensione to be grantit without the same be delyverit.