The Bischops of St Androis, of Glasgow, of Aberdeine, and Morray, beand callit, nane compeirit.
Sessio 3.
Anent the report of the King’s Grace and his Council’s answer to the petitions proponit be word be the brethren of the kirk yesterday; the brethren returnit answer to the articles. His Heines and Councill promittit to giue resolute answer to the same the 15th day of the next moneth, and to stay the place whill then.
In name of my Lord Lennox compeirit Mr Henry Keir, and saluted in his name the whole Kirk, declairing that his Lordship was maist willing to have ane minister in his awne house, for exercise of the trew religion; and albeit he had promised at the subscryving of the articles of religion to send for ane minister that had knawledge of the French tongue, yet be reasone Mr Bower had promised that he should cause him be provydit of ane qualified minister, according to his desyre, qwhilk took no effect, and wtherwayes also, because his desyre was that rather the Kirk should chuse him ane sufficient pastor, the matter hes sensyne lyen over; willing hartilie that the Kirk should write to some pastor of the French Kirk of London, for whais provisione and good entertainment he should be carefull: promising also in his name, that in the effaires of the Kirk, either in generall or particular, he should imploy his good affectione and labour as he sould be chargit; desyring that no uther opinione sould be conceived of him nor of any man that meines trewly towards God. The Kirk present hes willit their brother Mr James Lawsone to pen ane wryting in their names, to the minister of the French church of London, to the effect foresaid.
Anent the transporting of Mr Andrew Melvill, Principall of the Colledge of Glasgow, and Mr Thomas Smetoune, Minister of Pasley, to the Universitie of St Androis, conforme to the King’s Grace’s writting direct to that effect; after some publick wrytings in the matter had on ather syde, the Kirk referrit farther disputatione thereof qwhill afternoone. In the meane tyme, the questione being movit, if the Kirk might concurr with the King’s Majestie in transporting of Doctors from ane Universitie to ane uther for weightie and necessar causes, The Kirk and Assemblie present for the maist pairt votit to the affirmatione of the said questione.
Sessio 9.
Anent the act made in the last Assemblie concernyng the damning of the pluralitie of kirks in ane minister; The Kirk ordains the same to be put in executione be the Commissioners of provinces after the tenor thereof, under the paine of disobedience.
Anent the act made in the last Assemblie touching the Bischops; In respect that the order of the said act hes not been followed out against Bischops of Morray and Aberdeene conforme to the tenor thereof, The haill Kirk, as of before, ordaynes the Commissioners of the countries to put the said act to executione in all poynts, sa far as concerns thair pairt thereof, and the ministry so far as is appoyntit be the said act unto them, under the paine of making publick repentance in face of the haill Generall Assemblie, in caice they be found to contraveine the said act: And as to the warning and suiting of the saids Bischope of Morray, ordaines him to be warnit in Elgine publickly in the kirk; ordaynes Mr Thomas Buchanan, to summond the Bischop of Cathnes, and Johne Hepburne to summond the Bischop of Brechine to compeir in the nixt Generall Assemblie, to giue their submission and assent to the speciall heids conferrit and agreit upon be the Bischops of St Androis, Glasgow, and the Isles, with the Assembly, to be convenit expressly in the summonds; Certifying them and they compeir not, the Kirk will proceed with farder admonitiones against them. And in caise that the saids Mrs Thomas and Johne fulfills not this ordinance, the Kirk hes decernit against them that they shall make publick repentance in face of the haill Assemblie.[20]
The Generall Assemblie gives full power and commissione to their lovit breither of the Exercise of Edinburgh, with Mr John Craige, minister of the King’s house, if he be present, to call the Bischop of Orknay before them, and to chairge him in name of the Kirk, to give submission and assent to the articles and heids greit upone betwixt the Bischops of St Androis, Glasgow, and Isles, and to receave his answer thereupon, to be reportit with the haill proceiding therein to the nixt Generall Assemblie.
Ordaynes Mr Andrew Hay to summond the Visitor of Argylle to compear the next Generall Assembly to answer upon the usurpatione of the office of visitation within the saids bounds, under the pain of disobedience.