The Generall Assemblie ordaynes their breither the Lairds of Lundie, Seagie, Colluthie, and Mrs Robert Pont, James Lawsone, and Williame Christisone, to passe with Mr Andrew Melvill to the New Colledge and sie him plantit there, conforme to the directione and decreit of the Kirk; and sicklyke to call the papists that are within the universitie before them, and put order unto them, according to the acts of the Kirk.
Forswameikle as the Generall Assemblie, according to the King’s Majestie’s wreiting, and for the weill and universall profite of the Kirk of God within this realme, hes thocht meet and expedient and alse concludit and ordaynit, that Mr Andrew Melvill be transportit from the Universitie of Glasgow to the new Colledge of St Androis for erectione and planting thereof: Nottheless that the good beginning and labours taine be the said Mr Andrew be not frustrate, The haill Kirk hes found good, necessare and expedient that the said Thomas Smetowne occupy the said Mr Andrew his place and office in the said Universitie of Glasgow, and ordaynes him to accept the charge thereof upon him: and ane writting to be direct in name of the haill Kirk to the Rector and Principall of the Universitie, requesting them to receive him in the said Mr Andrew his place, for the weill and comfort of their Universitie: Mr Andrew Hay, as Rector of the said Universitie, in name thereof, dissenting from the removall of Mr Andrew, many wayes made protestation as of before.
Qwhither if ane minister entering in the functione of a ministrie, serving there in divers years by past, and thereafter leaves his vocatioun, and applys him to a civill office, may be admitted to be ane elder of the kirk? It is answerit, that this man is desertor gregis, and sould not be admittit to be ane elder, but rather aught to be callit for his desertione.
Ordaynes Mr Braid to delyver to my Lord Justice Clark, at the King’s Majestie’s command, gine in wreit, for raysing of letters against Mr Nicoll Browne.
[FORTY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY.]
The Generall Assembly, conveint at Glasgow, the 24 of Aprille 1581, where there was present the Commissioner for the King, the Laird of Capringtowne.
Sessio.
Exhortation beand made be Mr Andrew Hay; Mrs Robert Pont, David Lyndesay, and William Chrystisone, were put in leits, and the said Mr Robert, be pluralitie of votis, was chosen Moderator. Assessors, Mrs Andrew Hay, James Lawsone, David Lyndsay, Thomas Smetowne, William Chrystisone, the Lairds of Braid, Downrod, and Pilrig.
Forsuameikle as, for purgatione of the ministrie from unworthie persones that had enterit in the functione thereof, to the greit sclander of God and his Kirk, Ordour was taken in the last Assemblie, that all men, alseweell Barrones, Gentlemen, as uthers of the functione of the said ministrie, sould giue up the names of the saids persones unto the Kirk, as they will answer to God upon their consciences, not the less be schortness and inlaike of tyme, no greit effect followit, so that yet the sclander lyes upon the heid of the Kirk; Therefore, yet as of before, the Assemblie requires all men, as they tender the glory of God and the weill of his Kirk, that they delate and giue up the names of sic persones in wreit, the morne afternoone, that order may be taken for removeing of the greit sclander aryses to the Kirk be sic unworthie persones.[21]